The UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea (aPAL) as both groups seek to support the development of regulated online gambling in Chile. The move comes in the wake of Chile considering an upgrade to its online gaming regulations, with a Senate-approved bill and recent court action targeting unlicensed operators.
UK Trade Body Signs Agreement with Chilean Online Gaming Association: Highlights of the Story
- The BGC has signed a cooperation agreement with Chile’s aPAL on Tuesday, January 20. The groups will collaborate for one year to share international experience and strengthen the evidence base for gambling regulation in Chile.
- The agreement includes plans to engage with policymakers and stakeholders on developing a sustainable licensing framework. aPAL, which was formed in 2022 by international online operators, seeks modern gambling regulation in Chile.
- Despite repeated attempts to regulate the sector, online gambling in Chile remains unregulated. Lawmakers approved a draft bill in the parliament in August. However, it has yet to be enforced.
BGC and aPAL Sign One-Year Cooperation Deal to Strengthen Regulatory Oversight in Chile
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents major gambling operators in the UK, in a press release published on Tuesday, January 20, stated that it has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea (aPAL), the association of online betting platforms.
The BGC stated that the agreement would support efforts to promote a sustainable and well-regulated online gambling market in Chile. The lobby group revealed that its members together represent around 90 per cent of the regulated betting and gaming industry in the UK. Chile, which has witnessed a steady decline in land-based gambling revenue, is looking to regulate the online gambling sector with the BGC’s help.
aPAL was formed in 2022 by a group of international online betting operators seeking modern gambling regulation in Chile. Under the agreement, the BGC and aPAL plan to work together initially for one year. They said the partnership would focus on sharing experience and evidence and building knowledge around gambling regulation.
The BGC and aPAL are hopeful that the Cooperation Agreement would support closer engagement with policymakers and stakeholders. They intend to restrict illegal gambling operations, foster responsible gambling, and protect consumers from gambling harm. aPAL aims to capitalise on the BGC’s experience to develop the Chilean gambling regulatory framework.
Carlos Baeza, a Chilean lawyer and representative of aPAL, said:
Chile has a real opportunity to introduce a modern, robust regulatory framework for online gambling that protects consumers, tackles illegal activity and delivers meaningful public benefits. At present, online gambling operates entirely outside any regulatory oversight, leaving players without safeguards and the state without visibility or control. By working with the BGC, we can draw on international best practice and ensure policymakers have access to high-quality evidence and experience from well-regulated markets.
Online Gambling in Chile Remains Unregulated Despite Legislative Progress
Chile has an established land-based casino sector, as well as horse racing and a lottery duopoly. Online gambling is not prohibited in Chile, but it remains unregulated, with plans for regulation delayed several times. A draft bill to regulate online gaming has been under development for several years.
In August 2025, Chile’s Senate unanimously approved the bill, marking a major step forward in the legislative process. At the same time, the Supreme Court ordered internet providers to block unlicensed operators. Following elections at the end of this year, the new Chilean Government could advance the legislation and introduce a licensing framework as early as 2027.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, explained that the agreement was signed during a key period for gambling reform in Chile. She observed that the UK’s betting market is a testament to how robust licensing and effective oversight can sustain a safe and flourishing online gambling industry.
Hurst said:
The BGC is pleased to be working with aPAL at a pivotal moment for gambling reform in Chile. Well-designed regulation is essential to protect players, raise standards and drive out the harmful black market. The UK’s regulated market shows how robust licensing, high standards and effective oversight can support safer gambling while allowing a well-regulated industry to thrive. This agreement reflects our commitment to sharing that experience and supporting evidence-based policymaking internationally.
The agreement fuels discussions around Chile’s next steps toward establishing a regulated online gambling sector. It also reflects wider efforts by industry stakeholders to shape modern gambling policies through evidence and cross-border cooperation. With legislative debate underway and enforcement actions already taking place, analysts believe that gambling regulation in Chile could become clearer over the next two years.