Chile Begins Blocking Online Betting Sites as Latin America Tightens Gambling Oversight

Chile has taken decisive action to curb online betting and gambling websites, ordering major internet service providers to block 42 URLs following a recent Supreme Court ruling. The Subsecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel) instructed Entel, Movistar, Claro, GTD, WOM and VTR to implement DNS-based restrictions within 48 hours.

This measure aims to comply with Supreme Court and Santiago Court of Appeals rulings prohibiting unauthorized online gambling services. The move represents a shift from legal interpretation to practical enforcement, as Chilean users have been able to access international gambling platforms despite a lack of domestic authorization.

The Supreme Court ruled in September 2025 that only gambling activities expressly authorized by law are legal in Chile, with only a few entities permitted to provide online gambling services. This latest Subtel order gives the Supreme Court's ruling more tangible effect by requiring domestic telecom companies to limit access to the websites themselves.

Chile's approach contrasts with neighboring countries' varying responses to online gambling regulation. Peru has established a national regulatory framework for remote gaming and online sports betting, with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) overseeing authorized operators and enforcing compliance. Bolivia, on the other hand, maintains a more restrictive stance, with the Bolivian Gaming Control Authority taking actions against unauthorized gambling operations.

Unlike Chile and Peru, Argentina and Colombia have varying regulations across provinces and the city of Buenos Aires, leading to diverse legal architectures. Brazil, meanwhile, has legalized fixed-odds betting but is now considering stricter advertising and sponsorship restrictions. Overall, Latin American countries are adopting different approaches to online gambling regulation, with some creating regulated markets and others relying on legal restrictions and technological enforcement to prevent unauthorized access.