London/Santiago, Jan 22: Britain’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has signed a cooperation agreement with Chile’s Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea (aPAL) to support the development of a regulated online gambling market in the South American country.
The partnership aims to help Chile design a modern legal framework for online betting, drawing on international regulatory experience as the government prepares to advance long-delayed legislation.
Chile’s online gambling sector currently operates without formal regulation, even though land-based casinos, horseracing and lottery operations are regulated. Online betting is not explicitly illegal, but the absence of oversight leaves consumers without protections and limits the state’s ability to address illegal activity.
A draft bill to regulate the sector has been debated for several years. Following a recent shift in the political landscape, the government is now positioned to move the legislation forward, with licensing potentially introduced by 2027.
Under the agreement, which will run for at least one year, the BGC and aPAL will share evidence and international best practices to help shape a balanced licensing regime. The focus includes consumer protection, tackling illegal gambling and ensuring a competitive and sustainable market.
The BGC represents around 90% of the UK’s regulated gambling operators, while aPAL was formed in 2022 by international online betting firms active in Chile.
“Chile has a real opportunity to introduce a modern, robust regulatory framework for online gambling that protects consumers, tackles illegal activity and delivers meaningful public benefits,” said Carlos Baeza, a Chilean lawyer and representative of aPAL. He added that online gambling currently operates “entirely outside any regulatory oversight”.
Grainne Hurst, chief executive of the BGC, said the group was pleased to work with aPAL “at a pivotal moment for gambling reform in Chile”.
“Well-designed regulation is essential to protect players, raise standards and drive out the harmful black market,” she said, adding that the UK’s regulated market offers a proven model of licensing and oversight.
If approved, the proposed licensing system would mark a significant shift for Chile’s gambling sector, aligning it more closely with international markets and strengthening consumer protections.
