Expert: Chile’s gaming faces pressure from unregulated markets
Chile’s lawmakers have advanced a bill to regulate online betting platforms, while a Supreme Court ruling reaffirms their illegality and orders internet providers to block access. The dual developments have intensified scrutiny of an expanding digital betting ecosystem that operates with no oversight, distorting the regulated market and heightening social risks.
In an exclusive interview with SiGMA World, Cecilia Valdés, President of the Asociación Chilena de Casinos y Juego or the Chilean Association of Gaming Casinos (ACCJ), outlined the challenges posed by unregulated operators, the need for coordinated public policy, and the findings of a new national study on youth exposure to online betting.
Challenges posed by unregulated digital markets
Valdés identified the rapid growth of offshore betting platforms as the central issue facing Chile’s regulated industry. “The main challenge is to maintain ethical and transparency standards in a context where the unregulated digital offer continues to grow without limits,” she said.
She noted that authorised casinos operate under strict national rules, including “identity controls, self-care protocols, and state supervision.” Yet, Valdés said that they compete against “a parallel universe that operates without any oversight.”
“This not only creates an economic distortion but also a social risk,” she said. She added that the ACCJ aims “to continue strengthening self-regulation and to support a law that organises and oversees the entire online betting system – one that fosters a modern entertainment industry without asymmetries among operators and that benefits the country and society.”
Coordination with government and communities
Valdés highlighted the ACCJ’s long-standing engagement with public agencies and civil society. “As the ACCJ, we are active members of the Responsible Gaming Corporation – I personally serve as its director and secretary – so the connection is constant.”
However, she pointed to gaps in national policy. “The Ministries of Education and Health currently do not have prevention policies for behavioural addictions. There is still much to advance, but we are on the right path,” she said.
The ACCJ has also led initiatives to “warn about the risks of illegal gambling, clearly distinguishing between the regulated industry – which complies with national rules and pays taxes in Chile – and the platforms that operate outside the law.”
Youth exposure prompts nationwide study
The ACCJ’s concerns over digital gambling exposure among young people led to the release of Screens that Capture, a nationwide study examining habits and perceptions linked to online betting.
“The study ‘Screens that Capture’ arises from a widespread concern: the increasingly early exposure of children and adolescents to online gaming and betting platforms,” Valdés said.
She added that the digital offer has advanced faster than regulators can respond: “In recent years, we have witnessed how the unregulated digital offer has grown much faster than the State’s ability to oversee it.” According to Valdés, the research aims to “provide concrete evidence that helps measure the scale of the problem and guide public policy,” describing it as an initiative centred on “mental health, child protection, and social responsibility.”
Principles for future regulation
Valdés also outlined four principles she believes should anchor Chile’s future online gaming law: protection of individuals, transparency, social responsibility, and market competition.
She said Chile requires regulations that ensure robust verification of age and identity; prohibition of advertising aimed at minors; the obligation to pay taxes within the country and be subject to local oversight; and responsible gaming protocols for all operators.
“Regulation does not mean legitimising those who have operated outside the law – it means bringing order, protection, and prevention,” she said. “We also need a strong authority with tools to pursue illegal gambling.”
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