Chilean Senate committee approves motions to ban online betting
Chile's Senate Economy Committee approved two amendments that would effectively block private operators from offering online betting. The decision pushes aside the government's plan to create a regulated market, and the industry has responded harshly.
The Economy Committee of the Chilean Senate approved two amendments banning online betting in a vote held on Monday, November 9. The vote ended with three votes in favor, one against and one abstention. The amendments would largely prevent private operators from offering online betting in Chile.
The two proposals will be merged into a single text at the committee's meeting expected next week. The bill must then pass the Senate's Finance Committee and finally be voted on by the full Senate.
The industry body Agrupación de iGaming Responsable (AGR) strongly criticized the decision. The organization said it considers the decision unconstitutional. According to AGR, the ban will push consumers toward illegal operators that have no consumer protection measures. The organization also said the committee ignored a warning from its own secretary that the proposals were unacceptable under Senate rules.
The decision marks a new turning point in Chile's efforts to regulate online betting. Last month, the government of President José Antonio Kast announced changes to a 2022 bill. Those changes envisaged a regulated market framework that included five-year licenses, an advertising ban, new taxes and player protection measures.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment.
Log in to comment.