The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has inked a cooperation agreement with Chile’s Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea (aPAL) as the country moves towards consolidated iGaming regulation.
According to the BGC, the UK body will share its international experience and knowledge base with aPal, which is made up of a group of international betting operators, to further their efforts to establish modern gambling regulation in Chile.
As it stands, online gaming is not prohibited in the Latin American nation. However, it is also unregulated, meaning that operators function without government oversight.
aPAL, an organisation which counts notable names such as Betsson among its members, is seeking to change this and work with the Chilean government to advance a draft bill to regulate the sector, which has been under discussion for several years now.
Carlos Baeza, Chilean lawyer and representative of aPAL, said: “Chile has a real opportunity to introduce a modern, robust regulatory framework for online gambling that protects consumers, tackles illegal activity and delivers meaningful public benefits.
“By working with the BGC, we can draw on international best practice and ensure policymakers have access to high-quality evidence and experience from well-regulated markets.”
A bright future
While Brazil remains the undisputed leader in Latin America, Chile stands among nations such as Colombia and Peru as jurisdictions with plenty of growth potential.
But industry stakeholders warn that Chile risks falling behind its peers that 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,” Cecilia Valdés, Executive President of the Asociación Chilena de Casinos de Juego, previously told SBC Noticias.
“Not regulating is not neutral — it rewards those who break the law.”
However, following the conclusion of elections in the country in December, the road appears clear for an iGaming bill, which has enjoyed bipartisan support in the Chilean Senate, to progress.
At the heart of the new regulation is the creation of a formal licensing framework, including taxation, consumer protection and responsible gambling standards.
According to La Tercera, around five million Chileans bet online among the more than 3,800 active websites, generating a value of approximately $3.1bn. Perennial South American leader Betano enjoys the greatest market share in Chile, but the likes of Coolbet and Jugabet also have a strong presence.
Given the support of lawmakers and iGaming’s strong presence in the nation, aPAL is optimistic that the government is now in a position to introduce a licensing regime as early as 2027. The body has now sought the experience of the BGC to “engage constructively with policymakers and stakeholders” to aid these efforts.
“The BGC is pleased to be working with aPAL at a pivotal moment for gambling reform in Chile,” added Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC.
“Well-designed regulation is essential to protect players, raise standards and drive out the harmful black market. This agreement reflects our commitment to sharing that experience and supporting evidence-based policymaking internationally.”
