Chile’s lawmakers are adding articles to Bill 035/2022—which creates an online gambling and sports betting market—that would define criminal gambling activities and punishments, SBC News recently reported.
Several months ago the government instructed various departments to suggest amendments to the bill with the goal of launching the marketplace by the end of this year. The bill is currently in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Chile’s two house Congress.
Per SBC, the Economic Committee of that legislative body has announced that it will publish 15 new articles relating to the bill.
Undersecretary Heidi Berner said the new articles will provide a framework for law enforcement to prosecute violators of online gambling laws. The Economic Committee stated, “for the first time, there will be criminal penalties for those who violate regulations related to online betting platforms in Chile, thereby safeguarding transparency and safety in virtual betting activities.”
Licenses would be granted by the Superintendence of Gambling Casinos (SCJ).
Article 40 would establish the process for prosecuting unlicensed gambling sites. Additional articles will add charges and penalties related to fraud, corruption and cybercrime.
Article 19 states: “Thus, anyone who alters or changes a betting event, affecting a market outcome, will face a medium-degree minor imprisonment and a fine of 15 to 20 monthly tax units.” Those who advertise non-licensed sites are also subject to fines.
Article 38 provides sanctions for those who create accounts “to develop online bets with false information about their identity or violating the safeguard mechanisms for its verification.”
Fines for all online gambling offenses will range from $825 to $15,000 and imprisonment.
The commission also approved fines for those who provide false information to the Superintendence.
Congress has created a special committee to resolve the dispute between the National Association of Professional Football (ANFP) and the Ministry of Justice over betting partnerships. The Ministry wants to ban betting partnerships with gambling/betting firms. ANFP opposes this.
