Online poker is currently illegal in Chile under existing gambling laws, though the legal landscape is in transition. The Chilean Supreme Court ruled on September 12, 2023, that any gambling activity in Chile, including online gambling platforms, is illegal unless offered by authorized local operators such as licensed brick-and-mortar casinos, licensed cruise-based casinos, or authorized lottery operators (1). Only limited lottery games and sports betting offered by two national lotteries are currently permitted online under existing law.
The Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (Chilean Casinos Authority) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing gambling activities in the country. Created through Law No. 19,995 in 2005, the SCJ is an autonomous public service with its own legal personality that relates to the President through the Ministry of Finance (2). The authority represents the State in exercising authorization, operation, and supervision functions for casinos throughout the country, but currently only regulates land-based casino operations.
"The Superintendencia, created through Law No. 19,995, on January 7, 2005, is a public service, autonomous, with its own legal personality, that relates to the President of the Republic through the Ministry of Finance."
However, Chile is moving toward comprehensive online gambling legalization with a bill currently progressing through the Senate. This proposed legislation aims to legalize the internet gambling sector, establish public control mechanisms, institute responsible gaming principles, and preserve competitive marketplace dynamics. Until this new regulatory framework is implemented, online poker remains technically illegal, though enforcement against individual players accessing international platforms has been limited. The government estimates the current offshore gambling market to be worth approximately $130-170 million in annual revenue.
Source:
https://www.legal500.com/guides/chapter/chile-gambling-law/
https://www.scj.gob.cl/
Last updated: 27-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
