While the market awaits the draft regulation of online gambling in Chile, announced in January by the Secretariat for Finance, the Senate Government, Decentralization and Regionalization Commission has already started a discussion on the new measures that will be added to Law No. 19,995 on the sector games and casinos.
The negotiations are currently focused on the regulation of advertising and the forms of promotion promoted by land-based casinos. Thus, the concept of “ludopathy” would be added to legislation, as well as new limits would be assigned to the “vulnerable sector”, such as minors and people who have a problem related to gambling.
Based on the suggestions made by the committee chairman, Senator Carlos Bianchi, and by Senators Alfonso de Urresti, Pedro Araya, Jorge Pizarro, Jaime Quintana and Rabindranath Quinteros, the advertising campaigns and promotions carried out by the operators would be restricted.
Chilean casinos have been closed for more than nine months
The representative of the Superintendency of Gambling Casinos, Vivien Villagrán, also participated in the discussions and agreed to add some points to the agenda, while stressing that “it seems essential that the Superintendence has more tools for responsible gambling”.
As this change in legislation progresses to add new elements related to the gambling industry, a good part of Chile’s land-based casinos completes nine months of activities paralyzed due to the pandemic.
Therefore, the industry is waiting for a favorable rule for online games to be introduced, as disclosed earlier this year. During the discussions, the Gaming Casino Superintendence also stressed that irregular online gambling is increasing in Chile and more than 900 sites are active. Therefore, the regulation of the segment is fundamental.
Effects of COVID-19 in Chile
The fact is that Chilean casinos have been closed to try to contain cases of the disease. To date, the country accounts for 1.26 million cases with 27,000 deaths.
