Chile’s land-based casino revenue fell in 2025 as illegal online gambling continued to expand outside the country’s licensed framework. Gross gaming revenue from the country’s regulated casinos fell 4.5% year-on-year to CLP509.8 billion. Unlicensed online gambling generated about $3.1 billion during the year.
Casino visits also declined
Chile had 25 casinos operating in 2025, including 22 authorised under Law 19.995 and three municipal venues in transition. The regulated market remained active, but customer traffic weakened. Visits to the 22 Law 19.995 casinos fell 7.2% to 926,873. Average spend per visit still rose 3.3% to CLP86,019, showing that fewer customers were visiting but those who did attend spent more.
The decline also affected public revenue. Licensed casinos contribute through gaming taxes, VAT, entry taxes and municipal payments, making the sector an important source of regional funding.
ACCJ calls for tougher action
The ACCJ used its 2025 report to call for tougher action against illegal online gambling. Its position is that unlicensed operators are competing with regulated casinos without paying the same taxes or meeting the same compliance rules.
That argument has become stronger as offshore betting and casino sites continue to reach Chilean players through digital advertising, affiliates and payment channels. Chile’s regulated gambling market remains centred on land-based casinos, while online gambling rules have not kept pace with how players now gamble.
The trade body also warned that illegal gambling affects player protection. Licensed operators are subject to controls on responsible gambling, tax reporting and anti-money laundering checks, while offshore sites operate outside Chile’s regulatory system.
Online bill remains stalled
Chile has been debating online gambling regulation for several years. A bill to regulate online betting and casino activity was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in 2023, but the process has remained stuck in later legislative stages.
The delay has left Chile behind neighbouring markets that have moved faster on digital gambling rules. Brazil has launched a regulated betting market, while Peru has already moved ahead with remote gambling regulation.
Chile’s courts have also been pulled into the dispute. Legal fights over access to online betting platforms and claims of unfair competition continue while lawmakers decide whether to create a full licensing framework.
For land-based casinos, 2025 showed the scale of the problem. Revenue and visits fell in the regulated sector, while illegal online gambling kept taking customer activity outside the licensed market.
