Chile’s casino sector has escalated its call for urgent gambling reforms after the Supreme Court ruled that online betting operations are illegal.
Speaking to SBC Noticias, Cecilia Valdés, Executive President of the Asociación Chilena de Casinos de Juego (ACCJ), stated that the ruling must “serve as a catalyst for legislation, not as a temporary patch”, insisting that Chile needs a proper legal framework for its growing online gambling market.
“The Court did its job by upholding the law,” Valdés told SBC Noticias. “But now it’s Congress’s turn. The judiciary cannot continue to act as a substitute regulator for an industry that politicians have refused to legislate. Chile urgently needs a modern, clear and enforceable gambling law.”
Courts are not regulators
Valdés was clear that judicial interpretations cannot replace actual regulation. “The courts are not designed to regulate industries. They interpret the law but we still don’t have one,” she argued. “Every ruling offers short-term clarity but no long-term stability. Only Congress can provide that.”
Chile’s land-based casinos already operate under strict supervision from the Superintendence of Casinos, which enforces tax compliance and responsible gambling standards. Offshore online operators, however, operate without oversight or contribution to the economy.
“We need one system of rules for everyone,” Valdés said. “It’s unacceptable that regulated casinos are held to the highest standards while online platforms can operate freely from tax havens.”
Chile behind neighbours
The ACCJ has warned that political paralysis threatens to push Chile further behind regional peers such as Colombia, Peru and Brazil — all of which have already introduced online gambling frameworks.
“Every month without regulation means more capital leaving the country, more players exposed to unsafe environments, and more tax lost to the state,” Valdés said. “Not regulating is not neutral — it rewards those who break the law.”
The ACCJ believes that with the right framework, Chile could transform online gaming into a legitimate part of its emerging digital economy.
Matter rolls to a new election
The ACCJ expressed deep frustration that the government has failed to deliver a new Gambling Bill pledged by President Gabriel Boric at the last election. A lost opportunity to bring assurance to the market as Chile electorate heads to the polls in November
“We were told gaming regulation would be a priority,” Valdés said. “Instead, another election has come and gone without a law. Every delay creates more uncertainty and gives illegal operators more space to grow.”
“Chile’s gambling industry has been left in legal limbo for too long,” Valdés continued. “Each year without reform undermines legal operators, weakens tax revenues and damages public trust. We cannot keep relying on court rulings to patch a broken system.”
Clear Vision for 2030
Valdés outlined a vision for a hybrid gambling industry where physical casinos and regulated online platforms coexist under unified, transparent rules.
“Online gaming can help build Chile’s new economy,” she said. “It can create jobs, attract tech partnerships, and drive responsible entertainment — but only under proper regulation.”
She added that technologies such as artificial intelligence, gamification and virtual reality could enhance player protection and customer experience, provided they are implemented within an ethical and regulated structure.
“Our goal for 2030 is a stable, transparent and innovative industry — one that creates jobs, pays taxes and protects players,” Valdés concluded. “The time for political hesitation is over. Chile must legislate for the digital era — and stop asking the courts to fix what only the government can resolve.”
