Jorge Trujillo, director of Chile’s Internal Revenue Service (SII), has stood by the controversial decision to collect taxes from online betting companies, stating that the country’s tax authority (SII) is simply collecting what is ‘outstanding’.
Trujillo explained that, through Resolution No. 69, the SII is not promoting the online gambling industry, which was declared illegal by the Supreme Court.
He stated: “Online betting operators are an obvious activity that attracts the attention of the SII. We verified that these operations have been taking place and established a specific mechanism for collecting taxes.”
For the next session, the Economy Committee summoned the Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz, and the Superintendency of Gaming Casinos, and also requested a formal statement from the Supreme Court regarding the apparent contradiction.
Reasons for the Summons
Earlier, Senator Gastón Saavedra, chairman of the Economy Committee, said that the official had been summoned ‘to explain the scope of this decision and why a resolution was issued requiring online gambling operators—whose commercial base is not located in the country—to pay taxes’.
Saavedra said that officials held the belief that the tax decision effectively legalises what is illegal activity.
Along the same lines, Congressman Diego Ibáñez stated: “Unfortunately, the SII is de facto legalising an activity that the Supreme Court has declared illegal. This is the same as if, tomorrow, a person who illegally sells food on the street, someone who bets on dog races, drug traffickers, or contract killers were charged taxes on those activities.”
Previously, Cecilia Valdés, President of the Chilean Association of Gaming Casinos, had taken aim at the government, alleging that the state was validating an illicit industry in pursuit of additional tax revenues.
“Betting platforms have been advertising for years on television channels, social media, and in the press, which had already established the perception that their operation is legal. The SII resolution would only deepen that confusion,” he said.
Valdés further argued that authorities were prioritising tax collection over consumer protection, warning that the expansion of unregulated online gambling continues to expose players and licensed businesses to unnecessary risks.
The dispute highlights Chile’s ongoing failure to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for online gambling, despite repeated political efforts since 2022.
The Asociación Chilena de Casinos y Juegos (ACCJ) estimates that the online sector is worth $3.1bn, underscoring the economic potential of the sector. However, it is not yet clear how the government plans to collect taxes, given that the companies targeting players are not based in Chile.
