The online gambling market in Chile continues to show the impact of the lack of specific regulation. A study prepared by the Center for Public Studies (CEP) estimated that unauthorized virtual betting platforms generated gross revenues of CLP431,489 million, equivalent to US$462.9 million, during 2025.
According to the report, this figure was calculated based on the difference between the expected evolution of the regulated market and the revenues actually obtained by the industry, which represents 35.4% of the projected trajectory for the sector.
A strong impact on collection in Chile
The study also analyzed the fiscal effect of unregulated online gambling. If a specific tax of 20% on gross revenues were applied, the Chilean State would have failed to collect around CLP86,298 million, or US$92.6 million.
The CEP indicated that this estimate is closely related to the tax revenues foreseen by the Government during the processing of the bill that seeks to regulate online gambling in the country. At that time, the Executive had projected an annual collection close to CLP84,090 million, a figure very similar to that calculated by the study.
A cautious estimate
The researchers clarified that the results should be interpreted with caution, as they do not arise from a direct measurement of the online market, but from an estimate based on the expected behavior of the regulated sector.
In addition, they emphasized that there are other factors that can influence the detected gap, such as changes in consumption habits, the effects that still persist after the pandemic, the lower dynamism of some segments of land-based gambling, and the transformation of the entertainment offer.
Therefore, the objective of the report was not to establish an exact figure, but to dimension the economic and fiscal challenge posed by the growth of unauthorized online gambling in Chile.
Despite the growth of the illegal online segment, the study highlighted that the regulated market reached gross revenues of CLP787,281 million (US$844 million) in 2025, generating a collection of CLP 148,712 million (USD 159.5 million).
Likewise, about 70% of regulated activity continues to be concentrated in physical casinos, while the country continues to advance in the debate to establish a legal framework to regulate online betting.
