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The Superintendence of Casinos de Juego (SCJ) of Chile issued a warning about the advertising of bookmakers in local football clubs, as well as in the case of the national team. He also stressed that betting is illegal, except in cases where there is a license to do so.

“In Chile, betting is illegal unless expressly authorized. Therefore, only Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, Lotería de Concepción and Teletrak can offer certain games or online bets. Any other natural or legal person who does so will be committing a crime.” , SCJ said in a report published in the Chilean daily El Mercurio.

“Any promotion, advertising or other activity related to online gambling must not take place, even if there is no express prohibition,” added the SCJ.

The public institution, in turn, recalled that the Ministries of Finance and Sport declared illegal betting companies that, according to them, sponsor 15 football teams, both in the First Division of Chile and in other leagues. This is because they do not pay taxes and are not allowed to operate.

The SCJ also stressed that “the Penal Code punishes with prison sentences and fines those who illegally exploit gambling.”

The authorities said they had filed 29 complaints with the Public Ministry, as well as sent letters to the Council for Self-Regulation and Advertising Ethics, and the National Association of Professional Football in Chile, in which they were informed about the illegal nature of online gambling.

The SCJ statement follows the unanimous approval by the Sports Commission of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies of a bill that seeks to ban the presence of online advertising in sports clubs and events, both in person and on their respective radio, television broadcasts. and streaming.

After its approval, the legislative proposal was presented by 10 deputies and must now be voted on in the plenary of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that in March of this year, the Chilean Ministry of Finance presented a bill to regulate online gambling and sports betting, which currently lacks regulation that allows bettors to compete under the same legal framework.