Chilean deputies Eduardo Cretton and Marco Antonio Sulantay, both from the UDI party, have asked the National Television Council (CNTV) to move toward a full suspension of online betting advertising on television.
The lawmakers, who are opposing to the current governing party, requested the current time-based restrictions be extended to cover all hours.
The request follows the Santiago Court of Appeals' ruling which defined the mechanism for enforcing a Supreme Court decision ordering the blocking of online betting websites.
"Allowing betting houses to keep advertising while the courts move to ban them would send an absolutely incoherent signal from the State, especially given this is an activity operating outside the law," they said.
The deputies called it "essential" for different institutions to adopt measures consistent with the Supreme Court's ruling to limit betting promotion.
"It makes no sense for the courts to order a ban while we simultaneously allow online betting houses broad exposure to Chileans through advertising," they said, pointing to the risks of exposing minors and people with gambling problems to advertising given how easily accessible these platforms currently are.
They asked the CNTV to review its current criteria and adopt measures preventing continued TV promotion of online betting while enforcement of the court ruling moves forward.
Recently, Chile's tax authority created a mechanism allowing foreign online betting and gaming platforms to register and pay VAT on services provided to local users, despite Supreme Court rulings deeming such operations illegal and ordering their websites blocked.
Three casino operators have criticized Chile's latest tender, arguing that onerous bidding conditions discouraged participation and raised concerns about the country's current model for awarding casino licenses
