TLDR
- Cuoasec submitted a new legal framework for online gambling to Uruguay’s Ministry of Economy and Finance
- The proposal would only allow online gambling licenses for businesses that already run physical casinos
- The plan includes self-exclusion tools, protections for minors and a fund for gambling addiction treatment
- Cuoasec has reached out to leaders from several political parties, but the bill has not gone to Parliament
- A separate state-led proposal from Senator Felipe Carballo offers a different approach to regulation
Uruguay is debating how to regulate online gambling. The Uruguayan Chamber of Casino Operators and Service Lessees, known as Cuoasec, has presented a new legal framework for the sector.
The group sent its proposal to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It also shared the plan with members of several political parties.
The bill has not yet been presented to Parliament. It is still in early discussion stages.
Cuoasec says online gambling has grown in Uruguay without proper legal oversight. Executive secretary Luis Gama said the lack of public discussion about the topic is a problem.
He said staying silent on the issue is the worst outcome as online gambling keeps expanding across the country.
A Framework Built On Physical Casinos
The proposal has one main rule. Online gambling licenses would only go to businesses that already operate physical casinos.
Cuoasec says this would make it easier to identify operators. It would also make sure they follow existing rules.
The draft states that gambling is illegal unless the state directly allows it. This could happen through direct operation, concessions or tenders.
Businesses that want to invest in online gambling would need authorization first. That authorization would depend on the operator already running a physical casino.
The plan also calls for all legal online gambling sites to use the bet.uy web domain. Cuoasec says this would help players tell legal platforms apart from illegal ones.
Consumer Protection And Political Outreach
Consumer protection is another focus of the draft. The proposal includes self-exclusion systems for players who want to limit their gambling.
It also includes rules meant to keep minors away from gambling services. Operators would need to give clear information to users about the risks involved.
Cuoasec wants to create a fund for gambling addiction prevention and treatment. The fund would be paid for using proceeds from the regulated industry.
Gama said illegal gambling is common in Uruguay right now. He said young people are struggling with online gambling, and the issue often goes unnoticed because few people talk about it.
To build the proposal, Cuoasec looked at casino operators in other Latin American countries. It also studied gambling laws from other regions.
Cuoasec has already started talking with political leaders about the bill. The group has reached out to Frente Amplio leader Fernando Pereira and Cabildo Abierto’s Guido Manini Ríos.
It has also contacted Partido Independiente’s Pablo Mieres and Colorado Party senator Pedro Bordaberry. The proposal is also being reviewed by the Ministry of Economy’s General Directorate of Casinos.
Gama defended the rule linking licenses to physical casinos. He said regulators need to know exactly who they are dealing with before allowing companies to operate.
Cuoasec’s plan is not the only one on the table. Senator Felipe Carballo has proposed a different model, one built around a state-run online gambling platform.
Carballo’s plan would also create a National Regulatory Agency. That agency would oversee the market, track transactions and keep a national registry of players.
Both proposals agree that Uruguay’s gambling laws need updates. They differ on how much control private operators should have compared to the state.
Lawmakers have not yet decided which direction to take. The debate over Uruguay’s online gambling rules continues as both proposals remain under review.
