Chile's Subtel faces three court challenges and six appeals over betting site blocks

Chile's telecoms subsecretary Romina Garrido told the economy committee of the Chamber of Deputies that the Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (Subtel) has received three protection appeals, one lawsuit and six administrative challenges over blocks on online betting sites. The committee called the authorities to examine compliance with a Supreme Court ruling, according to the account Garrido gave to the committee.

The Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ) said 174 illegal sites have been blocked since 19 August. The SCJ said it referred them to Subtel and to Wom, Entel, Claro, Movistar, VTR and GTD, which it described as the country's six largest internet service providers.

On the judicial side, Garrido set out the status of three protection appeals. CoolBet's was rejected and a reposición is pending; EpicBet's was declared inadmissible, with an appeal pending; and Latamwin's case has not yet been reviewed. Latamwin also filed a demanda de mera certeza seeking a declaration that Subtel and the SCJ lack the powers to assess the legality of online platforms. Garrido and casinos superintendent Eduardo Cáceres responded that those bodies do not decide which sites are blocked.

On the administrative side, there are six cases seeking to lift the blocks: EstelarBet filed two, Betsala one, Betano two requests and Jugabet one. Garrido referred to an "intenso lobby comunicacional" by the platforms, which she said describe Subtel's action as illegal, and said the documents she receives carry a "bastante amenazante" tone. She said the blocking continues, but that the platforms "rápidamente mutan sus dominios a otros nuevos", so compliance with the court ruling is evaded.

Cáceres said the underlying problem is that the platforms are not regulated, so the SCJ has no powers to supervise, regulate or sanction them. He said the way forward is to advance the online gaming platforms bill. The sector-specific legislation is moving slowly: the Executive has until 26 October to submit its indications to the bill, while Senate president Paulina Núñez is promoting a proposal to ban online betting houses.