Online casino gambling in Chile sits in a legal gap. The law that created Chile's casino system was written for land-based casinos, and the bill that would license online betting is still being debated in Congress. This guide explains what the current rules mean for you as a player, who regulates gambling in Chile, what protection you have and do not have on unauthorised sites, how tax works and where to find help if gambling stops being fun.
Is online gambling legal in Chile?
Chile's casino law, Ley 19.995 of 2005, regulates land-based casinos and created the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ) to supervise them. It does not provide a licence for online casinos. The Penal Code also treats games of chance as unlawful unless a law expressly authorises them. As a result, no private online casino holds a Chilean authorisation today.
The only legal online games of chance in Chile are those offered by the state lottery operators, Polla Chilena de Beneficencia and Lotería de Concepción, which sell lottery products online under their own laws.
International online casinos and betting sites have nonetheless been widely used by Chileans for years. The courts have stepped in: the Supreme Court has ordered internet providers to block online betting platforms that lack legal authorisation in Chile. That makes clear that these sites are not considered lawful operators in the country, even though players themselves have not been the target of enforcement.
What will the new online betting law change?
A bill to regulate online betting and casino platforms (boletín 14.838-03) was approved by the Chamber of Deputies and has been under review in the Senate. In May 2026 the government gave it the highest level of legislative urgency, but at the time of writing it has not been passed into law.
As drafted, the bill would turn the SCJ into a Superintendency of Casinos, Betting and Games of Chance with the power to grant online licences and sanction operators. Licensed operators would pay a tax on their gross gaming revenue plus VAT, and unlicensed platforms would face blocking and payment restrictions. Until the law is published and the first licences are issued, there is no Chilean licence you can look for on an online casino.
Who regulates gambling in Chile?
The Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego supervises the land-based casinos authorised under Ley 19.995 and the municipal casinos. Its website, scj.gob.cl, lists every authorised casino, explains players' rights and accepts complaints about authorised venues.
Polla Chilena de Beneficencia and Lotería de Concepción are regulated separately as state lottery operators. If the online betting bill is passed, the SCJ is expected to publish a register of licensed online operators, and that register would be the place to check any site's status.
What are the risks of using unauthorised gambling sites?
An online casino that is not authorised in Chile is outside the reach of any Chilean authority. If the casino delays a withdrawal, closes your account or changes its terms, the SCJ cannot handle your complaint. At best you can turn to the foreign regulator named on the site, and the quality of those regulators varies a lot.
Chilean consumer law and SERNAC are also of limited help against a company with no presence in the country. Some sites operate without any meaningful licence at all. Be careful with offers that look generous, sites that pressure you to deposit quickly, and any platform that asks for payment through unusual channels or personal accounts.
How do you recognise an authorised operator?
For land-based casinos, the SCJ register is the reference: every authorised casino appears on scj.gob.cl. For online play, the only authorised products today are those sold directly by Polla Chilena and Lotería de Concepción through their official websites and apps.
- Check whether the product is offered by Polla Chilena or Lotería de Concepción on their official domain.
- For land-based casinos, find the venue on the SCJ list of authorised casinos.
- Follow the progress of boletín 14.838-03 on the Senate website to see when online licences start.
- Once licences are issued, look up the exact web address in the regulator's public register before you deposit.
How does self-exclusion work in Chile?
The SCJ runs a national self-exclusion system (Sistema Nacional de Autoexclusión) for authorised land-based casinos and municipal casinos. You can register for a period of between six months and three years. Registration is free and can be done at a casino, online with your ClaveÚnica through the SCJ website or ChileAtiende, or with a notarised form.
Authorised casinos must check the identity of visitors and deny entry to people on the list. The register does not currently cover online gambling sites, because there are no licensed online operators to connect it to. If you want to block yourself from online gambling, use the self-exclusion and limit tools on any account you have, and consider gambling blocking software on your devices and card blocks with your bank.
Do you pay tax on gambling winnings in Chile?
The tax rules for prizes depend on the type of game. Lottery prizes from the state operators are subject to their own tax treatment, and land-based casinos operate under a specific tax on their gross income. There is no settled, published rule that covers winnings from foreign online casinos.
If you have significant winnings from any gambling source, keep records of deposits and withdrawals and ask the Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII) or a tax adviser how they should be declared. Do not rely on a casino's claim that winnings are tax free.
Where can you get help with gambling problems in Chile?
If gambling is causing you stress, debt or conflict, talk to someone early. SENDA's Fono Drogas y Alcohol on 1412 offers free and confidential guidance on addictions and can point you to treatment. Jugadores Anónimos Chile holds self-help meetings for people with gambling problems and their families.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call the suicide prevention line *4141, which is available 24 hours a day, or Salud Responde on 600 360 7777. The SCJ website also has information on responsible gambling and self-exclusion.
- SENDA Fono Drogas y Alcohol: 1412
- Suicide prevention line: *4141 (24 hours)
- Salud Responde: 600 360 7777
- Jugadores Anónimos Chile: self-help groups
- SCJ self-exclusion: scj.gob.cl or ChileAtiende
Myths vs facts
- Myth: If a site accepts Chilean pesos and Webpay, it must be legal in Chile.
- Fact: Accepting local currency or payment methods says nothing about authorisation. No private online casino currently holds a Chilean licence.
- Myth: The SCJ can help you recover money from an online casino.
- Fact: The SCJ only supervises authorised land-based casinos. It has no power over foreign online sites.
- Myth: The online betting bill is already law.
- Fact: Boletín 14.838-03 has passed the Chamber of Deputies but at the time of writing is still in the Senate.
- Myth: Self-exclusion at Chilean casinos also blocks online gambling.
- Fact: The national self-exclusion register covers authorised land-based and municipal casinos only.
Before you claim
- Know that no private online casino is licensed in Chile yet
- State lottery products bought only on official Polla or Lotería sites
- Land-based casino checked on the SCJ list
- Status of the online betting bill checked on the Senate website
- Deposit and time limits set before you play anywhere
- Self-exclusion considered if gambling feels out of control
- Help line numbers saved: 1412 and *4141