Lagstiftning
Chile – Senatens ekonomiska kommission återupptar debatten om lagförslaget om onlinespel
By James - 11 mars 2024
The Senate’s Economic Commission has resumed the analysis of online gambling regulation in Chile. After the legislative recess in February, parliament returned to normal activities and received presentations from the Association of Online Betting Platforms, the Superintendence of Casinos of Games (SCJ)och Polla Chilena de Beneficencia.
Advokat Carlos Baeza, advisor to Betsson, Betano, BetWarrior, Coolbet, Latamwin and 1XBET warned in a document presented to the commission said: “There is no provision in Chilean legal system that prevents the development of online betting.”
The document went on to say that “73 per cent of OECD countries have regulated the online gambling industry,” and called for online gambling in Chile to move in the same direction.
“The tax burden and player channelling relationship are key factors in formulating regulatory policies in the gambling industry. Reducing the tax burden is an effective strategy to increase channelling, strengthen regulation, protect user interests, and increase tax revenue,” the document concluded.
However the SCJ warned lawmakers that “without explicit legal regulation, the commercial exploitation of gambling in Chile is illegal, and furthermore constitutes a crime.” The SJC argued that the only entities authorized to offer gaming and betting products are licensed casinos, and lotteries Polla Chilena de Beneficencia S.A., Lotería de Concepción S.A., and racecourses.
In addition, Polla Chilena de Beneficencia questioned whether it was right that it should be “included as another actor” within the ecosystem outlined in the bill, obliging it to apply for a license in the same way international operators would have to do.
During the session, Senator Loreto Carvajal, who is presiding over the commission, requested authorities to specify the “destination of the resources that would be generated” with the regulation of this activity.
Senator Karim Bianchi warned about the difficulty of legislating and regulating online gambling platforms and proposed “establishing a determined number of regulated casinos” in the industry. Senator José Miguel Durana meanwhile highlighted the need to create a responsible gambling policy within the framework of this initiative, emphasizing the importance of a national strategy to address gambling addiction associated with online casinos. He also requested a list of countries that have chosen to establish operating restrictions for companies operating in unregulated markets. He also urged an analysis of regulations implemented in other countries to obtain a “description of their regulatory design.”
I januari Underfinansministern Heidi Berner och chefen för Superintendent of Casino Games (SJC) Vivien Villagrán presented Chile’s online gambling bill to the Senate’s Economic Committee. The bill, som godkändes i första skedet av Kammarkollegiet i december, syftar till att skapa en konkurrensutsatt marknad. Det strävar också efter att värna allmänhetens förtroende, skydda spelarnas hälsa och säkerhet, säkerställa transparens i ursprunget och destinationen för resurser som erhållits från spel och höja intäkter till statskassor och sport.
