TLDR
- A new group called the Responsible iGaming Association (AGR) has formed in Chile to push for online gambling regulation.
- Consultancy H2 Gambling Capital projects Chile’s regulated market could reach $1.45 billion by 2030.
- A licensing bill passed a general vote in August 2025 but remains stuck in the Senate.
- Chile’s tax authority now requires foreign betting sites to register and pay Digital VAT.
- Local casino operators worry the tax rule may confuse the public about legality.
A new industry group has formed in Chile to push lawmakers toward regulating online gambling. The group, called the Responsible iGaming Association (AGR), includes operators such as Betano, Betsala, Estelarbet, Juegalo and Novibet.
The AGR’s main goal is simple. It wants the government to finish work on a licensing system for online betting companies.
According to projections from consultancy H2 Gambling Capital, the payoff could be large. The group says Chile’s regulated online gambling market could reach $1.445 billion by 2030.
That number would put Chile among the top regulated gaming markets in Latin America. The AGR argues this growth depends on clear rules being put in place soon.
Licensing Bill Still Waiting in the Senate
Chile does not yet have a specific law for online gambling. In August 2025, lawmakers approved a bill in general terms to create a licensing system and fight illegal betting.
That bill is still moving through the Senate. It needs to pass a second constitutional process before it can reach a full floor vote.
The AGR says a licensing system would do more than grow the market. It argues regulation would protect players, raise tax revenue and reduce illegal gambling activity.
Industry Calls for a Clear Regulatory Framework
AGR Executive Director Sandra Kemp said online gambling already exists in Chile without rules to govern it. She said the lack of regulation is the real problem, not the activity itself.
Kemp said the AGR plans to work with other groups. These include AgruGaming and the Online Betting Platforms Association (APAL).
She said the industry’s main goal is a clear framework. Kemp added that such rules would raise public revenue through taxes, create jobs and support sports development in Chile.
Outside of the licensing debate, Chile’s tax authority has also taken action. The Internal Revenue Service, known as the SII, issued Resolution No. 69 in June.
The rule requires foreign betting websites operating in Chile to register under a special tax system. These companies must also follow local tax laws, including paying Digital VAT.
At first, no operators signed up under the new rule. The SII then said it would take enforcement action against companies that failed to comply.
Since that warning, registrations have picked up. The SII reports that 25 online gaming platforms have now registered, including AGR members Betano and Betsala.
Not everyone supports the tax measure. Cecilia Valdéz, president of the Chilean association of casinos, raised concerns about how it might be viewed by the public.
Valdéz said betting platforms have advertised for years on television, social media and in the news. She said this has already made people believe the operations are legal, and the new SII rule could add to that confusion.
