TLDR
- Chile’s state lottery president Macarena Carvallo called online betting “the new fentanyl of the 21st century”
- Polla Chilena’s gross income dropped 18.34% in 2025 compared to the previous year
- The Xperto sports prediction platform’s contribution to public sports funding fell from 18 billion to 14 billion pesos
- Carvallo warned that unregulated betting is already harming children and adolescents in Chile
- Despite opposing online betting expansion, the state lottery says it is ready to compete if Chile opens the market
Chile’s state-run lottery operator has issued a stark warning about the rise of online betting in the country. The company’s president compared the trend to one of the deadliest drug crises in modern history.
Macarena Carvallo, who leads Polla Chilena, described online betting as “the new fentanyl of the 21st century.” She made the comments in a recent interview as Chile continues to debate how to regulate online betting platforms.
Carvallo pointed to the United States and Brazil as cautionary examples. She noted that even in countries where platforms have been regulated, problems have emerged.
In Brazil, President Lula Da Silva recently announced plans to restrict betting platforms. Carvallo used these examples to urge Chilean regulators to consider social consequences alongside economic ones.
The debate comes at a difficult time for the state lottery. Polla Chilena reported gross income of 120.253 billion pesos in 2025. That figure was down 18.34% from the year before.
State Lottery Revenue Takes a Hit
One of the hardest-hit products was Xperto, the company’s sports prediction platform. Xperto is one of Polla Chilena’s top revenue sources after its Loto game.
In 2024, Xperto contributed 18 billion pesos to the budget of Chile’s National Sports Institute. By 2025, that number had fallen to around 14 billion pesos.
Carvallo said the decline is directly tied to the growth of illegal and unregulated betting platforms. These platforms are pulling users away from the state operator.
The financial damage goes beyond the company’s bottom line. Polla Chilena funds public programs in sports and social services. When its revenue drops, those programs lose funding too.
“Those harmed are not only Polla, but also those who benefit from it,” Carvallo said. She was referring to the public institutions that depend on lottery-generated money.
Court rulings and company actions have not been enough to stop illegal operators, according to Carvallo. She said institutions have failed to shut them down despite multiple efforts.
Concerns Over Impact on Minors
One of Carvallo’s biggest concerns is the effect of online betting on young people. She warned that children and adolescents are already experiencing negative consequences.
“We are already beginning to observe negative consequences for children and adolescents,” she said. She did not provide specific data but framed the issue as urgent.
These concerns are not unique to Chile. Other Latin American countries are facing similar debates about how to handle the rapid growth of online gambling.
Despite her opposition to online betting, Carvallo said Polla Chilena has prepared for the possibility that Chile may open its market. The company has invested in technology and strategy to stay competitive.
“If Chile decides to open its market of online betting to liberalization and regulation, we are ready to compete,” she said.
Still, she stressed that any regulation must include protections for citizens. She called for mechanisms that address the social risks tied to online gambling.
Chile has not yet made a final decision on whether to regulate online betting platforms. The debate continues among lawmakers, companies, and public stakeholders across the country.
