Two Chilean deputies have asked the National Television Council (CNTV) to suspend television advertising by online betting operators at all times, arguing that continued promotion of the platforms is incompatible with the country’s efforts to block unauthorised betting websites.
UDI deputies Eduardo Cretton and Marco Antonio Sulantay submitted the request after the Santiago Court of Appeals established a procedure for implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling against unlicensed online betting platforms.
The Supreme Court ruled in September 2025 that telecommunications companies must block unauthorised betting websites. The subsequent court process has established a mechanism under which the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) can identify and validate domains for blocking, with the Telecommunications Subsecretariat responsible for instructing internet service providers to implement the measures.
The process is designed to address new domains as they emerge, rather than relying solely on a fixed list of websites.
Cretton and Sulantay argued that the same approach should apply to advertising. They called on the CNTV to extend its restrictions so that betting advertisements cannot be broadcast during any television hours.
“Allowing betting companies to continue advertising while the courts move to prohibit them would be an absolutely incoherent signal from the state, particularly because this is an activity operating outside the law,” the deputies said, according to Chilean news outlet BioBioChile.
They said it was “essential” for other state institutions to act consistently with the Supreme Court’s decision and take measures to prevent betting companies from continuing to promote their services.
“There is no point in the courts ordering their prohibition while, at the same time, we continue allowing online betting companies to have broad exposure among Chileans through advertising,” Cretton and Sulantay added.
The deputies also raised concerns about exposure among minors and the potential impact of gambling on people experiencing gambling-related problems.
The request follows previous action by the CNTV against betting advertising during protected viewing hours. The regulator has sanctioned broadcasters over the transmission of online betting advertisements during periods intended to protect minors, with the courts subsequently upholding the CNTV’s authority to impose such sanctions.
The latest request would go further by seeking a blanket television advertising restriction, regardless of the time of day.
The move comes as Chile continues to deal with the unresolved legal status of online betting. While the courts have moved to restrict access to unauthorised platforms, lawmakers are also working on legislation that would establish a dedicated regulatory framework for online gambling.
The Senate bill would create a licensing system for online operators and introduce new rules covering taxation, responsible gambling, supervision and enforcement. The government has accelerated consideration of the legislation this year, but the framework has yet to become law.
Two Chilean deputies have asked the National Television Council (CNTV) to suspend television advertising by online betting operators at all times, arguing that continued promotion of the platforms is incompatible with the country’s efforts to block unauthorised betting websites. UDI deputies Eduardo Cretton and Marco Antonio Sulantay submitted the request after the Santiago Court of