Chile extends deadline for amendments to online betting regulation as Senate debate widens

Chile’s government missed the original deadline to submit its amendments to the bill regulating online betting operators, and the Senate committees have now pushed the cutoff to Monday, October 26 at 12:00 hours. For PSPs and acquiring teams watching this file, the important bit is not just the delay: the legislative path is still open to a stricter outcome, including a proposal to ban online betting altogether.

1. The bill is in its second reading in the Senate, and the government did not file its indicaciones (amendments) within the original deadline, which expired last Friday at noon. Senate committees agreed to extend the deadline to Monday, October 26 at 12:00 hours.
2. According to sources cited by La Moneda, the delay stemmed from differences between Segpres and the Ministries of Finance, Economy, Justice, and Health over the wording of the amendments. Segpres denied that version and said the government is seeking agreement across the different parts of the executive branch.
3. José García Ruminot’s office said the bill has taken a long time to move forward and needs review of multiple issues and broad agreement. Biminister Claudio Alvarado also defended the extension, saying several meetings had taken place and that additional time was needed to build consensus around the proposals.
4. In parallel, Senate President Paulina Núñez (RN) submitted an amendment that would prohibit online betting houses. Her proposal includes prison sentences of up to 15 years, permanent judicial blocking of illegal platforms, and tougher penalties when criminal organizations are involved.
5. Núñez argued that online betting is “not an innocent business,” pointing to addiction, debt, and family harm. She also challenged the idea of the state collecting tax revenue from the activity without accounting for those effects, saying the state should not become a tax partner in a problem it is supposed to prevent.

For payment providers, the practical takeaway is simple: Chile is still deciding whether it will regulate online betting or move toward prohibition-style restrictions. Until the Senate finishes this round of amendments, anyone processing for this vertical in Chile is looking at a moving target, not a finished rulebook.