With a highly digital population and a robust financial infrastructure, Chile looks very attractive on paper, but it is not yet a market that is fully ready. The evolution of regulation, potential enforcement pressure, and the need for strong payment and compliance systems mean that operators will face challenges. The message is simple: Chile is no longer a market to merely keep an eye on — it is a market you must actively prepare for.
History of iGaming in Chile
When you think of “iGaming in Chile,” your mind may go straight to slot machines and roulette — but the story begins decades earlier, with municipal casinos. Chile’s oldest modern-style casino is the Casino de Viña del Mar, inaugurated in 1930. Over the years, other municipal casinos emerged in cities such as Arica, Iquique, Coquimbo, Pucón, Puerto Varas, and Puerto Natales.
The real turning point came on January 7, 2005, with the publication of Law No. 19,995. This law established the “general framework for the authorization, operation, and supervision of gaming casinos” and created the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ), the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing casinos nationwide.
With this law, Chile transformed its gaming industry: it moved from a patchwork of scattered municipal casinos to a national regulatory framework. The legislation allowed up to 24 licensed casinos operating under national regulation (in addition to the existing municipal ones), regionally distributed (a maximum of three per region, a minimum of one per region, and a minimum distance of 70 km between casinos).
The Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) officially began its supervisory role in May 2005, marking the beginning of a new regulated era. In the years that followed, this “new industry” model led to the construction of dozens of casinos across Chile, creating jobs, boosting tourism and regional development, and transforming gambling into a regulated sector.
Current regulatory landscape
Regulation in Chile is clear and well established for land-based casinos, but it is still evolving for iGaming. Online gambling operates in a legal gray area, as there is currently no operational licensing regime for online casinos or sportsbooks, and Chilean authorities have taken an increasingly strict stance on the matter.
The Supreme Court has ruled that online betting is illegal unless explicitly authorized by law, and courts have ordered internet service providers to block access to unlicensed platforms. Official bodies have also clarified that the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) has no jurisdiction over iGaming under the current legislation.
However, the landscape is beginning to change. In 2025, the Chilean Senate made real progress toward regulating iGaming, with bipartisan support for a bill that would create a formal licensing framework, introduce taxation (including VAT), and impose consumer protection and Responsible Gambling standards. Although the law is not yet fully in force, it signals a clear political shift toward bringing iGaming into a regulated market.
For iGaming operators, this means Chile is a “prepare now, launch later” market. The present carries legal and operational risks, including website blocking and regulatory pressure. But the future may offer a fully licensed and regulated market, with strong consumer trust and a first-mover advantage for operators who are ready when the switch is flipped.
Market size
Chile’s “official” iGaming market is real — and valuable. In 2025, there were around 25 licensed land-based casinos across the country, generating approximately USD 154 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in the first quarter of 2025 alone. In the first half of 2025, total casino GGR reached approximately USD 292 million.
At the same time, the land-based casino segment is showing signs of pressure. In 2024, Chilean casinos generated around USD 588 million in total gross revenue, alongside fewer visits and lower average spend per customer. This does not mean the market is disappearing, but it does suggest that traditional, offline growth is becoming more challenging.
Where things become truly interesting is in the online environment. Including offshore and unregulated activity, Chile’s iGaming market is projected to reach approximately USD 2.49 billion in 2025, driven by strong digital momentum. Following regulation, industry estimates suggest that iGaming could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% to 10%, potentially reaching around USD 670 million by 2027.
In short: Chile already has a sizable iGaming economy in US dollar terms, but the real potential lies in what has not yet been fully regulated — the online market. Operators who understand both the land-based casino giants and the growing digital appetite will be best positioned to capitalize once licensing comes into force.
Responsible Gambling, consumer protection, and age verification
If regulation is the engine of a market, Responsible Gambling is the seat belt — and in Chile, that seat belt already exists for land-based casinos. Under Law No. 19,995, licensed casinos are required to implement consumer protection measures, display Responsible Gambling messaging, and provide clear information about risks and support channels for gambling-related problems. Operators are also subject to strict internal control systems and inspections by the regulator.
There are also formal controls related to age verification and access restrictions in physical venues. In Chile, casino access is limited to adults (18+), and operators must enforce identity checks and access controls to prevent underage gambling. These obligations are audited by the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) as part of its ongoing supervisory role.
Online, the situation is very different, as there is currently no comprehensive regulatory framework for online gambling. This means that most offshore platforms are not legally required (today) to follow standardized Chilean rules on age verification, self-exclusion, or Responsible Gambling tools. This gap is one of the main drivers behind the push for new regulation, as authorities seek stronger consumer protection and clearer safeguards for minors and vulnerable players.
The forthcoming iGaming regulatory proposal aims precisely to address this issue. Draft bills discussed in the Chilean Congress include mandatory KYC (Know Your Customer), age verification systems, player self-exclusion tools, betting limits, and clearer rules for advertising and bonuses. The goal is simple: if Chile opens the door to licensed online betting, it wants that door to be safe, supervised, and significantly more responsible than the current gray-market reality.
In summary: in the land-based casino world, Responsible Gambling and age control already exist and are enforced. In the online world, these protections are still inconsistent — which is exactly why formal regulation is seen not as “bureaucracy,” but as a crucial upgrade in consumer protection.
Future outlook
If we had to bet on the future of iGaming in Chile (purely from a professional standpoint, of course), the safest wager would be regulation. The political and regulatory momentum clearly points toward a formal iGaming framework, with licensing rules, taxation, and consumer protection requirements.
Most industry observers expect Chile to follow a path similar to other recently regulated Latin American markets: a centralized licensing model, stricter KYC and Responsible Gambling requirements, and clearer rules for both local and international operators.
From a market perspective, the most likely scenario is strong digital growth once regulation is implemented. Research groups already project Chile’s total iGaming market to be worth approximately USD 2.49 billion in 2025, with online gambling expected to grow at a CAGR of around 9% to 10% in the second half of the decade. In practical terms, this means more competition, more sophisticated products, and a shift from offshore and gray-market platforms to licensed, compliant local operators.
There are also real challenges ahead. The transition period may be turbulent: existing offshore operators may struggle to adapt, some brands may exit the market, and enforcement against unlicensed platforms is likely to intensify. At the same time, higher compliance costs, local taxes, and technical requirements may compress margins compared to today’s lightly regulated environment.
In short: Chile is likely to move from a gray market to a regulated one in the medium term — and that generally means less chaos, more trust, and greater long-term opportunity. Operators that invest early in compliance, payment infrastructure, and scalable technology will be best positioned to win once the rules become clear.
Practical checklist for iGaming operators
Before hitting the “launch” button, here is a practical, no-nonsense checklist to help iGaming operators stay compliant, competitive, and ready for Chile once licensing goes live:
* Regulatory readiness — track the bill and plan for licensing: Monitor the progress of the iGaming bill and design your market-entry plan around a licensed model (technical, corporate, and local presence options). If approved, the law will define the licensing, taxation, and supervisory rules you must comply with.
* Legal and tax structure: Map out a corporate structure that aligns with Chilean rules and taxes (expect VAT plus specific iGaming taxes in early proposals). Budget for license fees, local taxes, and ongoing reporting obligations.
* KYC/AML/Age verification — make it robust now: Implement enterprise-grade KYC, identity verification, and transaction monitoring: biometric/ID verification, proof of address, PEP/sanctions screening, and ongoing AML monitoring. The draft bill and regulatory intent emphasize strict KYC and self-exclusion tools. Start vendor assessments early.
* Payments platform — local-first approach: Integrate local payment systems (Redcompra debit, WebPay, local bank transfers, and popular digital wallets) alongside global systems (cards, e-wallets) to maximize conversion and minimize friction. Plan for reconciliation, chargeback rules, and alternative flows for larger withdrawals.
* Responsible Gambling features — build mandatory tools into the product: Deposit and betting limits, session limits, cooling-off periods, mandatory display of help resources, and a robust self-exclusion mechanism. Draft legislation explicitly requires Responsible Gambling safeguards.
InPlaySoft: the right choice for a regulated Chile
When Chile’s iGaming market becomes fully regulated, the winners will not simply be the first to launch — they will be the operators that build platforms capable of scaling fast, maintaining stability, and growing without friction.
That is exactly where InPlaySoft comes in. We design, deploy, and maintain scalable, stable, and fast-to-market iGaming platform solutions across casino, sportsbook, and eSports for operators who demand not just success, but sustained growth.
Our technology is built cloud-first, meaning your platform does not just grow — it automatically adapts to your business needs. Whether traffic spikes double, triple, or surge unexpectedly, the infrastructure adjusts in real time. No bottlenecks. No emergency upgrades. Just smooth, controlled expansion.
And when it comes to stability, we do not just talk about it — we prove it. Since launching operations in 2021, we have not experienced a single second of platform downtime. Not one. In a market like Chile, where regulation will increase technical and compliance pressure, that level of reliability is not a luxury — it is a competitive weapon.
The bottom line? When Chile becomes regulated, you can either build on uncertainty — or build on a platform already designed for scale, speed, and uninterrupted performance. With InPlaySoft, you are not just ready to enter Chile. You are ready to win.
Source: InPlaySoft
