Chilean Deputy Irací Hassler has presented a bill that would restrict people listed in the country's National Registry of Child Support Debtors from accessing casinos, online betting platforms, stadiums and live events.
The proposal seeks to introduce additional consequences for people who fail to meet their child support obligations.
Hassler said: “If there is money to place bets, to go to casinos, if there is money to go to soccer stadiums, there must be money for the needs of sons and daughters, for food, for health, for everything that is not put on pause.”
According to Hassler, around 270,000 people remain in default on child support payments. She also said that, as of May 2025, men accounted for 96% of those listed as debtors. These figures were cited by the deputy when explaining the proposal.
Under the bill, event organizers, ticket sellers, casino operators and authorized online gaming platforms would have to consult the National Registry of Child Support Debtors before completing transactions or allowing access to venues.
If a customer appears on the registry, ticket sellers would have to refuse the purchase or issuance of tickets, event organizers would have to deny entry, and betting platforms would have to suspend the person's accounts and gambling transactions, according to the proposal.
The restrictions would remain in place until the individual was removed from the registry. This could happen after the outstanding debt was paid or a payment agreement was approved by a court.
The registry itself was created under Law No. 21,389, enacted in 2021 and implemented in 2022. It is administered by Chile's Civil Registry and Identification Service.
Under the existing framework, a person can be registered if they owe at least three consecutive monthly child support payments or five non-consecutive payments, in each case under a court-established or court-approved obligation.
The law already provides for measures including tax refund retention and restrictions on certain financial and property transactions, but the entertainment and betting restrictions described in Hassler's proposal would require additional legislation.
This is not the first time it has been attempted: the initiative follows earlier legislative efforts to restrict access to gambling venues for child support debtors. Two bills proposed banning registered debtors from casinos and prohibiting betting at casinos and racetracks.
Similar restrictions have been introduced or proposed elsewhere, although their scope varies: In Argentina, Buenos Aires City blocks registered child support debtors from using licensed online betting platforms, while Buenos Aires Province, Jujuy and Salta restrict their access to gambling venues.
Entre Ríos has approved extending its restrictions to casinos and paid-entry events, while similar bills remain pending in Santa Fe and Río Negro.
Brazil has banned recipients of social welfare programs, including Bolsa Família and BPC, from betting on licensed platforms.
Russia has also considered legislation to prevent debtors from placing bets, but the bill remains under consideration.
Unlike Argentina, Chile does not have a provincial system of legislation; national laws apply throughout the country
