Chilean Senate committee backs amendments to ban private online gambling
The amendments offer different enforcement measures and challenge the government's proposal for a licensed private market.
Key points
- The Senate Economy Committee approved both amendments by three votes to one, with one abstention.
- One amendment would exempt state lotteries, authorized racetracks and land casinos.
- The government proposed five-year licenses and taxes on private online gambling.
- The bill remains under article-by-article review before moving to the Senate Finance Committee.
Chile's Senate Economy Committee has approved two amendments that would ban private online gambling, putting senators at odds with a government plan to license and tax operators.
Both amendments passed by three votes to one, with one abstention, according to The Gamblest. They would prevent a regulated private online gambling market but set out different enforcement measures.
Senate President Paulina Núñez and National Renewal Senator María José Gatica submitted one amendment. Committee chair Gastón Saavedra and Broad Front Senator Diego Ibáñez submitted the other.
The Saavedra-Ibáñez proposal would prohibit betting platform operations, deliveries and advertising in Chile regardless of where the platforms are located. It would provide exemptions for state lotteries, authorized racetracks and land casinos.
Under that proposal, operators would face prison terms of 541 days to five years and fines of 200 to 1000 UTM. Service providers, app stores and payment processing companies would also be liable for ceasing to provide their services.
The Núñez-Gatica amendment would also prohibit private operators and would allow courts to stop illegal gaming platforms.
The committee votes challenge government plans outlined on 26 October. Those plans called for a five-year license, a 19% VAT on the betting difference and a 3% additional fee.
The Chamber of Deputies has passed the bill, and the Senate has approved it in principle. The Economy Committee is reviewing it article by article before it moves to the Senate Finance Committee.
Sources
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