Population: 18.000.000
Active players: 6.000.000
Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)
Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, lottery, casino games, horse racing
Operator types: Licensed & unlicensed online bookies and casinos, land-based betting shops and casinos
Designated authority: Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ)
Status: Semi-regulated
Chile, stretched along the southwest of Latin America, is known for having one of the most distinctive geographical shapes of the world. Having one of the most advanced economies in the area, allowed Chileans to show a particular interest in sports. The national football team has appeared several times in the FIFA World Cup and lifted the Copa America twice. Tennis also ranks highly among people in Chile and is the only sport that won the country a gold Olympic medal.
It is no coincidence that the two most popular sports in the country are also the most popular sports in bookmakers. The first legislation regarding gambling goes back to 1852 and has taken several forms since then. Nowadays, land-based casinos, betting shops and Chile betting sites shape the gambling landscape. Since the beginning of 2021, the government has been in the process of regulating the market, but it has been pushed back. Currently, Chileans can freely access international bookmakers, which take advantage of the loose local restrictions.
Sport betting sites Chile - 5 things to know
- Legal gambling age in Chile is 18 years
- The annual revenue of gambling is over USD 800 million
- Xperto is the only legal online bookmaker
- Online gambling is typically prohibited
- Betting winnings come with no tax
Best betting sites Chile
You can pick any of the top sports betting sites in Chile that we list as they have gone through meticulous testing from our team. They stand out in terms of odds, bonuses and have markets and events from the Chilean Primera División and every reputable league around the globe.
Online gambling in Chile: The law framework
The gambling laws in Chile are in place today (no. 19.995, known as Casino Act 2005); go back to 2005 and ban international bookmakers but only on paper. Everyone can join and play on traditional betting powerhouses & offshore bookies. Despite that there is a state-controlled bookmaker, authorities tend to overlook bettors who opt to bet on foreign betting sites in Chile.
The Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (regulatory authority) has also approved land-based casinos to expand online to incentivize Chileans to play locally. The SCJ allows 24 casinos to operate in the country based on region. Lotteries are also immensely popular in Chile, but again they are controlled by state-owned companies.
Essential information for bettors
Launching a government-backed sportsbook was the first step that the state took to exert influence in the betting market. However, most players choose to play on trusted international sport betting sites Chile offers, giving better prices, more selections and higher bonuses. Due to the lax nature of restrictions, you do not need to stealth your activity behind a VPN service.
Betting winnings come with a zero tax in Chile, regardless of where you play. Operators are bound by a 20% tax on gross gaming revenue, with 5% going to a beneficiary fund. Speculation has it that local politicians aim to apply such a tax on any foreign betting site Chile under pressure by Chilean business interests. Such an action could cause a massive exodus of international bookies, but there is no sign that this will happen soon.
Best sports betting sites Chile: How to deposit
You can use pretty much every deposit method your preferred bookmaker gives you. That applies mainly to credit/debit cards with which bettors overwhelmingly opt to deposit. Since betting sites Chile offers do not go under a strict auditing process, there are no worries about an unwanted activity leak.
You can deposit with a Skrill or Neteller wallet known for privacy features if you value hidden transactions. The same goes for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum & Tether (provided you join a crypto-friendly bookmaker), allowing instant payments.
The future of betting in Chile
Since 2005 the gambling market in Chile has been in turmoil, but no significant changes have occurred. The government seemed determined to go through with the regulation in 2021, but the pandemic eventually stopped such plans. As a result, every betting site Chile offers continues to operate seamlessly in the country, and local players can join and play with no restrictions.
But what happens if the market gets, after all, regulated? It is widely expected that the SCJ will favor local bookmakers. Still, they will be no match for international powerhouses, which they will be capable of getting a license. But these are just projections. For the time being, go ahead and play on the best sports betting sites in Chile, based overseas.
The complete list of bookmakers in Chile
The vast selection of top sports betting sites in Chile can be confusing. This is where we step in, with our recommended sportsbooks having multiple years of experience and positive ratings from our members.
Technically, international online bookmakers are illegal, but authorities turn a blind eye, so Chileans can join and play wherever they want. As long as the situation remains the same, it is unlikely that any major or offshore bookies will leave the country.
We stand behind all our recommendations in the shortlist above, as they have been tested thoroughly. For a quick hint, though, you can always go with Bet365, 22Bet and Betsson, trusted by scores of bettors.
Even though foreign bookies do not have a local license, they will usually boast one from where they are based. That could be a UKGC, an MGA or an offshore one. In any case, we put reliability first, and our listed sportsbooks have proved to be legit.
There are no restrictions regarding the banking options you can use. Credit/debit cards, wallets and cryptocurrencies are all up for players. Cards are popular due to ease-of-use while wallets and Crypto provide under-the-radar transactions.