The Court of Appeals of Santiago has asked Chile’s Subsecretariat of Telecommunications to explain how internet providers can block illegal online gambling websites more effectively. The request is part of an ongoing legal dispute over offshore betting and casino platforms operating in Chile. The court wants technical details on suitable blocking methods after earlier orders failed to fully stop access to unlicensed sites.
Court focuses on blocking methods
The court document was dated May 22 and signed by judges Juan Cristóbal Mera and Sandra Araya. It asks Subtel to explain which technical mechanisms can be used to block gambling websites.
The request follows previous rulings that unauthorized operators cannot transmit or promote games of chance without legal and administrative approval. Chile does not currently have a full licensing system for private online gambling operators.
That has made courts handle enforcement while lawmakers continue to debate regulation. Blocking orders have become one of the main tools used against offshore gambling platforms.
Supreme Court raised mirror site issue
Chile’s Supreme Court has already ordered internet providers to block access to illegal betting websites. Later rulings also raised concern over mirror sites, which are alternative web addresses used to keep platforms reachable after a main domain is blocked.
That problem has made enforcement more technical. A basic domain block may not stop operators that quickly switch addresses, use redirects or create new versions of the same site. Subtel’s response could help the court decide whether stronger technical measures are needed. It could also clarify what internet providers can reasonably be required to do under current Chilean law.
Lotteries and casinos keep pressure on illegal sites
Chile’s state-linked lottery operators and casino industry have pushed for stronger action against offshore gambling. Unlicensed platforms operate without local tax, supervision or player protection rules.
The legal pressure has grown while Chile’s online gambling bill remains unfinished. A proposal to regulate online betting and gaming passed the Chamber of Deputies, but its progress in the Senate has been slower. That delay has kept the market in a legal grey area. Offshore brands remain visible to players, while local authorised operators continue to seek stronger court-backed blocking orders.
Blocking tools differ by method
Website blocking can involve domain blocking, DNS blocking, IP blocking or other network-level measures. Each method works differently and can be harder to maintain when gambling operators change domains or use mirror sites.
Domain and DNS blocking can be faster to apply, but operators may avoid them by moving traffic to new web addresses. IP blocking can be broader, but it may affect unrelated services if several websites share the same server.
