Chile's Financial Market Commission (CMF) has published a draft rule that would bar payment operators from processing transactions for unlicensed online casinos and bookmakers. If adopted, the measure would block both deposits and payouts through Chilean payment services for offshore operators.
The proposal updates the list of ancillary services permitted to card payment operators. Authorisation would be restricted to services supporting companies that comply with Chilean law and hold the necessary licences or concessions. Foreign activities that would be illegal in Chile would also fall under the ban. CMF chair Catherine Tornel confirmed the rule would cover online casinos, since unlicensed gambling is prohibited in the country. Payment operators would be unable to process either deposits or withdrawals for such platforms if the rule is adopted as drafted.
The proposal entered public consultation in August. It comes as Congress continues debating a regulated online betting market. Chile's Supreme Court has ruled that unlicensed betting is illegal, and the government has already allowed foreign operators to register for VAT on Chilean customer transactions. The CMF rule would tighten enforcement through the financial infrastructure while the legislative framework remains unfinished.
Separately, the telecommunications undersecretariat Subtel ordered six ISPs to block 42 URLs of illegal bookmakers and casinos within 48 hours earlier this month. The DNS blocking procedure has become routine and relies on court orders.
