Chile’s betting-site blocks hit the courts with seven operators challenging Subtel

Chile’s telecom regulator Subtel is facing legal challenges from seven operators as it enforces Supreme Court-ordered blocking of online betting sites, while replacement legislation remains stalled in the Senate. Subtel official Romina Garrido told the Chamber of Deputies’ Economy Committee that the challenges comprise six administrative objections, three protection appeals and a civil lawsuit against the blocking process. The Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego said 174 unlicensed sites have been ordered disabled since August 19, with instructions sent to Wom, Entel, Claro, Movistar, VTR and GTD.

CoolBet’s appeal was rejected at first instance and awaits a reconsideration ruling; EpicBet’s was declared inadmissible and is on appeal; Latamwin has a pending protection appeal and filed a separate lawsuit seeking certainty over regulatory authority. Administrative requests came from EstelarBet, Betano, Betsala and Jugabet. Garrido and acting superintendent Eduardo Cáceres said the agencies execute court orders rather than decide which sites are illegal, and Cáceres said the SCJ lacks supervision powers without a specific legal framework. Garrido acknowledged that operators’ rapid move to mirror domains weakens the blocks.

The Senate moved the deadline for amendments to Monday, October 26 at noon after the executive did not file observations by the original date. Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado attributed the delay to the second stage’s complexity and the need to restructure a debate that had sat idle for months. Both sides are awaiting the legislative text.