Chile’s battle over online gambling has entered a critical new phase. The Santiago Court of Appeals has ordered the country’s six leading internet service providers — Claro, Entel, GTD, Telefónica, WOM, and VTR — to prove they have complied with a Supreme Court mandate requiring the blocking of access to online betting websites. This development increases the pressure on ISPs and highlights the intensified legal scrutiny surrounding Chile’s digital gambling landscape.
Court Demands Evidence of Website Blocking
Under the latest judicial order, ISPs must submit detailed reports within five days demonstrating the effective implementation of access restrictions. Failure to comply could result in legal consequences.
The resolution was issued by the Court of Appeals’ Sala de Cuenta Protección, composed of Minister Iara Barrios M., substitute Minister Fernando Antonio Valderrama M., and attorney member Rafael Mauricio Plaza R. Their ruling enforces the Supreme Court’s earlier directive from late September, which required immediate blocking of online gambling operators deemed illegal in Chile.
That decision overturned a prior May 2025 ruling that had initially favored the ISPs. The complaint originated from Lotería de Concepción, which argued that providers were enabling unauthorized gaming activity.
Legal Basis Reinforced by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court clarified that gambling is prohibited by default in Chile unless explicitly authorized by law. Currently, only Lotería de Concepción, Polla Chilena, horse-racing tracks, and regulated land-based casinos are permitted to offer gaming products.
In the online sphere, only Lotería, Polla, and Teletrak hold approval for limited digital betting. Therefore, international online operators remain unlicensed — and consequently illegal — under Chilean law.
Strong Reactions Across the Industry
The ruling has triggered contrasting views within the domestic gaming and digital sectors.
Cecilia Valdés, Executive President of the Chilean Association of Gaming Casinos (ACCJ), welcomed the decision, saying it delivers regulatory certainty by confirming offshore platforms have operated outside Chile’s legal framework while contributing no taxes or consumer protections. She emphasized that the verdict helps protect the integrity of the national market.
In contrast, APAL (Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuestas en Línea) expressed frustration through its legal representative, Carlos Baeza. He argued that declaring online betting illegal lacks a solid basis since Chile has yet to legislate specifically on iGaming. Without clear regulation, he added, conflicting judicial interpretations have created uncertainty for both operators and users.
Advocates for regulation believe this situation highlights the urgency of approving a pending Senate bill that would introduce an organized structure for licensing, taxation, and oversight of online gambling.
A Turning Point for Chile’s Digital Betting Future
For now, ISPs must quickly execute the court’s demands. However, larger policy questions remain unresolved:
Will Chile continue cracking down on offshore operators, or shift toward a regulated iGaming market?
How will state lotteries, casino groups, and global operators shape the legislation ahead?
As the Supreme Court ruling sets a more aggressive stance against unregulated platforms, Chile appears to be entering a transitional period — one that could define the long-term direction of digital gambling within the country.
