Chile’s online betting fight: Kast’s licences vs a total ban
A third rival bill would hand the market solely to Chile’s two existing lottery operators instead.
The hit
Chile’s government submitted a package of amendments to the Senate to licence & tax online gambling operators, according to Casino.org. Senators Diego Ibáñez & Gastón Saavedra have instead proposed an outright ban carrying prison terms, while Senator Daniel Núñez wants the market reserved for the country’s existing lottery operators.
Why it matters
A ban would wipe out the licensed market Kast’s government is trying to build. The prison-sentence proposal signals how hard some lawmakers want to hit operators, not just players. The debate follows Brazil’s own ban fight & restrictions now under consideration in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province.
The record
| Government bill submitted | 26 October (Chile Senate) |
|---|---|
| Licence term under Kast plan | 5 years |
| Tax under Kast plan | 19% VAT on stakes-winnings gap plus additional 3% tax |
| Prison term proposed for violators | 6 months to 3 years (Ibáñez-Saavedra bill) |
| Gambling URLs blocked by Chile | 42 (September, telecoms authorities) |
What happens next
Chile’s Senate Economics Committee must now weigh the three rival bills. Watch also for Brazil’s Supreme Court hearing on its gambling ban, set for 3 November.
Sources: Calls for Online Gambling Bans Spread Across Latin America as Chile Joins Debate – Casino.org
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