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The UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), along with Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuestas en Línea (aPAL), which operates out of Chile, has signed a cooperation agreement, an important step towards enabling a sustainable and well-regulated online gambling industry in South America.
The agreement is between two different bodies that complement their relationship. The BGC is composed of an association of 90% of the UK’s regulated gambling industry, whereas aPAL is an association of international online gambling operators that has been involved since 2022 in advocating for the introduction ofa contemporary regulatory framework for online gambling operations in Chile.
Chile’s Current Gambling Landscape
As previously established, online gaming in Chile was, to some extent, legal. It was not strictly prohibited in Chile, but currently, gaming operates in an unregulated state. Concurrently, Chile already maintains a structured gaming industry that includes casinos, horse racing, and a duopolistic structure for a lottery. There was a bill seeking to regulate operators undertaking gaming operations.
As indicated, with the latest electoral process, the new government is now positioned to advance this much-discussed measure into the legislative queue, with the possibility of this forthcoming bill allowing online gambling to fall under legislative regulation, possibly as early as 2027, when the country’s online gambling industry could begin to fall under formal regulatory authority.
What the Cooperation Agreement Includes
In accordance with the agreement, it is stipulated that the BGC, along with aPAL, will collectively build upon international experience and evidence, improve collective knowledge around gambling regulation, and work collectively with regulators and other stakeholders to positively influence the development of a sustainable licensing approach.
Adequate measures for an effective future have not been lost on Carlos Baeza, a Chilean legal practitioner and aPL representative. He said: “Chile is faced with the chance to establish a new and effective legal framework of regulation for online gambling that is beneficial for its consumers, helps fight against illegal practices, and is extremely valuable for society. At the moment, online gambling is conducted totally outside of any kind of legal framework or regulation, leaving gamers at a loss and the State notionally unaware.”
Learning From the UK Model
This cooperation agreement shall have an initial duration of one year and is included within the program of worldwide cooperation established by the BGCIC.
Speaking on the partnership and its significance on the part of the organization, Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, stated: “The BGC is happy to be partnered with aPAL at a critical moment in gambling regulation reform in Chile. Properly calibrated regulation is critical to players’ protection and to removing the black market.”
She further added, “Regulated UK markets are an exemplar of how licensing, standards, and regulation can ensure safety in gambling, as well as facilitate the development of a growing, well-regulated industry. This agreement demonstrates our willingness to share these models internationally to ensure evidence-based policy.”
Looking Ahead
The joint move by the BGC and aPAL to work together as Chile gets closer to unveiling its approach to the regulation of its online gambling industry likely reflects an increased focus on global cooperation. By working together to draw on tested regulated approaches, together with extensive experience and expertise, the two bodies hope to build a transparent, accountable, and environmentally sustainable approach to the regulation of the country’s online gambling industry in the near future.
Source: SBC Noticias
