Chile Senate extends online betting bill deadline as Núñez proposes total ban

Chile's Senate has extended until noon on 26 October the deadline for the government to submit its indications to the online betting regulation bill. The delay followed differences between the Secretaría General de la Presidencia (Segpres) and the ministries of Hacienda, Economía, Justicia and Salud, which share ownership of the initiative, the outlet reported.

According to versions cited by the press, the ministries sent agreed drafts at the Segpres's request, but the Segpres modified the text, which drew rejection from the other ministries and blocked formal submission. The Segpres, headed by José García Ruminot, denied that account. "Este es un proyecto de larga tramitación, cuyo avance requiere revisar diversas materias y construir acuerdos amplios", the Segpres said, according to the report.

Senate vice-president Claudio Alvarado supported the need for more time, saying various meetings had been held and that an additional period was considered necessary to seek consensus on the indications. "Se han efectuado diversas reuniones y dentro de esa comunicación, de ese diálogo, de buscar consenso en las indicaciones, se ha estimado necesario tener un plazo adicional", he said, according to the report.

In parallel, Senate president Paulina Núñez filed an indication seeking to eliminate online betting houses in Chile, the report said. The proposal provides for prison terms of up to 15 years, permanent judicial blocking of illegal platforms and aggravated sanctions where criminal organisations are involved.

Núñez said online betting houses are not an innocent business and can generate addiction, debt and devastating consequences for families. She added that the state "no puede transformarse en socio tributario de un problema que tiene el deber de prevenir" and warned about the risk of illegal platforms being used by organised crime, according to the report.

The original bill aims to establish a regulatory framework for online platforms, combat illegal operation, protect players, prevent problem gambling, set tax obligations and safeguard children and adolescents, the report said. The postponement of the deadline and the total-ban proposal reopen the debate over the sector's future in Chile between a regulated model with controls and a possible elimination of the activity, according to the outlet.