The latest data from the Chilean Gaming Control Board (SCJ) shows that in 2025, the total gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the 22 casinos authorized under Act No. 19995 was 509.8 billion pesos (approximately 597.5 million USD), a decrease of 4.5% year-on-year. Visitor numbers fell to 927,000, a decline of 7.2%, and although per capita spending slightly increased by 3.3% to 86,000 pesos, it was not enough to offset the decline in customer traffic. The performance of the three municipally licensed casinos was relatively stable, with a slight increase in GGR of 0.5%. Tax revenues also decreased by 4.7%, and the online gambling regulation bill, which the industry had been awaiting for many years, has been stalled since its passage by the House of Representatives in 2023, until a ban by the Supreme Court last year saw the legislative process see a turnaround. How will the direction of gambling regulation in Latin America evolve? PASA's official website continues to track legislation in various countries.
First, "Volume down, price up" at physical casinos, hard to reverse the annual downturn
In 2025, the overall performance of Chilean physical casinos can be summarized in one sentence: fewer guests, slightly higher spending, but the overall balance still looks poor.
22 national license casinos: GGR 509.8 billion pesos, year-on-year -4.5%; 927,000 visitors, -7.2%; per capita spending 86,019 pesos, +3.3%.
3 municipally licensed casinos: GGR 39.5 billion pesos, +0.5%, basically flat.
The Monticello Casino (O'Higgins region) remains the "tax champion," contributing 4.25 billion pesos in special tax revenue alone. However, the overall pie has shrunk, leading to a total national gambling tax revenue of 2.14 billion pesos, a decrease of 4.7%. This includes:
•20% gambling special tax: generating 84.4 million pesos, split 50/50 between regional and municipal governments, specifically for public works.
•Value-added tax: 81.4 million pesos.
•Casino entry tax: 2.85 billion pesos.
The tax structure is stable, but the base is smaller, and the local financial "casino dividend" is shrinking.
Second, online regulation "three years without completing the last mile"
The Chilean online gambling bill was submitted as early as 2022 and passed by the House of Representatives in 2023, but has been shelved in the Senate ever since. The Chilean Casino and Gaming Association (ACCJ) has repeatedly called for expedited review, but the legislative body has yet to complete the "final step."
A turning point occurred in September 2025—Chile's Supreme Court made a landmark ruling, ordering Internet service providers to block a batch of illegal gambling websites. ACCJ President Cecilia Valdez commented: "This is a step in the right direction. The next step must be clear: enforce the ruling and advance serious regulation with a responsible attitude, respecting the principle of legality and ensuring fair competition."
The industry generally believes that the Supreme Court's tough stance may force the Senate to restart the bill review this year. Valdez also warned: "We cannot allow the bill to be hastily passed under the pressure of illegal operators—that would deviate from the regulatory intent."
Third, 2026: the "window year" for the legalization of online gambling in Chile?
From the decline in physical business to the illegal websites eroding the market, the Chilean gambling industry is at a crossroads. Physical casinos are limited by the ceiling on customer traffic, while the online market has long been occupied by "grey production" due to a regulatory vacuum. ACCJ's statement clearly conveys the demands of the compliant camp: both to block the backdoor—banning unlicensed platforms, and to open the front door—introducing a licensing system as soon as possible.
Currently, the Senate has not yet included the gambling bill in the urgent agenda, but the Supreme Court's ruling provides legislators with a strong endorsement of public opinion and legal rationale. If the legislation can be completed in 2026, Chile will become another Latin American country, following Colombia and Argentina (some provinces), to establish a national online gambling regulatory framework. For international operators, this is an unlisted but increasingly hot "new blue ocean."
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
