State-owned lottery operator Polla Chilena de Beneficencia has filed a criminal complaint before the Fourth Guarantee Court of Santiago, alleging that certain online casino and betting platforms are operating outside Chile’s legal framework.
The court has declared the complaint admissible and opened proceedings to assess the facts presented.
In its filing, Polla Chilena requests that prosecutors investigate potential offences, including illicit association, illegal organisation of gambling and money laundering. The company emphasises that these are suspicions subject to judicial verification rather than established findings of guilt.
The scope of the complaint extends beyond operators to include individuals and legal entities allegedly involved in administrative, commercial and technical support functions within Chile.
Particular attention is given to payment service providers (PSPs) and transaction processing mechanisms. According to the complaint, electronic payment infrastructure – including card processing and fund transfers – plays a central role in enabling platforms to scale locally.
The investigation is expected to examine how transactions are structured, whether funds pass through Chilean jurisdiction and whether any flows could be linked to financial crimes.
Polla Chilena’s position is grounded in rulings by the Supreme Court of Chile, which have classified online casinos and betting as illegal under current legislation.
While many platforms serving Chilean players operate under foreign licences, the complaint argues that local financial and operational links may bring elements of these activities within domestic legal reach.
Board President Macarena Carvalho stated that the action reflects the company’s legal and ethical duty to safeguard public resources and uphold regulatory standards.
The investigation will now determine whether sufficient grounds exist to pursue criminal liability against specific parties.
In Chile, most online gambling platforms operate under offshore licences, while land-based casinos are regulated by the Superintendence of Casinos of Gaming (SCJ)
