Senators voted three to one with one abstention on November 9, 2026, and committee chair Gastón Saavedra said the two texts would be merged at the next session before the bill moves to the Senate’s Finance Committee. The vote effectively sidelines the amendments President José Antonio Kast’s government submitted on October 26, which included five-year licenses, 19% VAT on the difference between bets, and prizes and an additional 3% levy.
The amendment from Saavedra and Senator Diego Ibáñez would prohibit operating, offering, or advertising online betting platforms in Chile, exempting state lottery Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, Lotería de Concepción, authorized racetracks and land-based casinos, with offenders facing prison terms of 541 days to five years. The second, from Senate President Paulina Núñez and Senator María José Gatica, would allow courts to permanently block illegal sites, with sentences of up to 15 years in serious cases such as targeting minors.
Sebastián Vallebona, Deputy Finance Minister, said:
“We are losing the opportunity to debate regulation that focuses on protecting families, preventing minors from accessing gambling and preventing an increase in gambling addiction.”
Matías Walker, Independent Senator, added:
“I think prohibition is the worst path. It’s the best scenario for the companies that have never wanted to regularise, that have never wanted a state licence, that have never wanted to pay taxes.”
Trade association AGR said a ban would push players toward illegal operators. Multiple operators have registered and paid VAT in Chile since July, despite a Supreme Court ruling that ordered unlicensed sites to be blocked.
