TLDR
- Chile has ordered internet providers to block 37 more online gambling domains flagged by the gaming regulator.
- Providers must put the DNS blocks in place within 48 hours of being notified.
- The list includes Bet365, Betfair, Betano, Betway, Betsson, 1xBet and several other betting brands.
- The Chilean Online Betting Platforms Association says some domains may fall outside the court rulings.
- Chile is still discussing a full law to regulate online gambling.
Chile has ordered internet service providers to block 37 more online gambling websites. The domains were identified by the Superintendency of Casinos and Gaming, known as the SCJ.
Providers must put the DNS blocks in place within 48 hours of being notified. The order follows decisions by Chile’s Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals in Santiago.
The new list includes domains, subdomains and mirror sites linked to well-known betting brands. Among them are Betano, Betsson, Rojabet, Estelarbet, Betcris, Kto Bet, 1xBet, Marathonbet, Betway, Betfair, Betsala, Bet365, Mi Casino and Sporting Bet.
How Chile’s DNS Blocking Process Works
The Court of Appeals of Santiago ruled that DNS blocking is a suitable way to carry out the court’s decision. The ruling was based on a technical report from Subtel, Chile’s telecommunications authority.
The method targets specific domains that have been identified in advance. This is meant to lower the chance of blocking legitimate services by mistake.
The process starts when Lotería de Concepción, or a third party helping it, reports domains, subdomains, redirects or mirror sites to the SCJ. These addresses must be connected to illegal online gambling websites.
The SCJ then checks whether the reported addresses belong to online betting or gambling sites. Once they are validated, Subtel formally notifies the internet providers.
Providers named in the process include Entel, Movistar, Claro, GTD, WOM and VTR. Each must apply the blocks within 48 hours.
Internet providers must prove to the Santiago Court of Appeals that the blocks are in place. They must also send Subtel a confirmation showing the exact date and time each block was carried out.
The process is expected to continue as more domains and mirror sites are found. New addresses must be identified, verifiable and pre-validated by the SCJ, and there are steps to fix any disruptions to legitimate services.
Betting Group Questions Scope of New Blocks
The Chilean Online Betting Platforms Association, known as aPAL, has raised doubts about the latest list. The group said some of the domains may not be covered by the court decisions that created the procedure.
“Today, domains are once again appearing that are not included in the Supreme Court ruling or in the resolution of the Court of Appeals that gave rise to this procedure,” aPAL said in a statement.
The association added, “Respecting court decisions also means respecting the limits established in them.” It argued that administrative steps used to enforce court rulings should not go beyond what those rulings allow.
aPAL also raised concerns that the blocking measures could affect estimates of tax revenue from Chile’s Digital VAT.
The group said the problem cannot be solved one website at a time. “The fundamental issue cannot be resolved domain by domain. Chile needs regulation that allows this market to be organized comprehensively, with clear rules, effective oversight and user protection,” the association said.
Chile is still discussing a comprehensive law for online gambling. For now, the current system lets authorities act against specific websites while the wider question of how to regulate online betting remains open.
