for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Uruguay is about to take a serious leap in the world of gaming. The national government announced plans to introduce a complete legislative package that would be able to regulate online gambling and strengthen oversight of the broader gaming sector throughout the first half of 2026. The announcement by Fernando Estévez, Director General of Casinos, serves to indicate a firm direction in which to take both the rise of digital bets and the perpetual problems generated by illegal gaming houses.
A Coordinated Move toward Regulatory Modernization
Estévez shared the government’s direction in a meeting with the newly formed Cámara Uruguaya de Operadores y Arrendadores de Servicios de Casino y Salas de Esparcimiento (CUOASEC). Its membership includes major operators in hospitality and gaming, along with its executive secretary and former regulator, Luis Gama.
According to participants, the government is working on several bills designed to modernize the regulatory framework. These include controlling illegal operations, redefining the regulatory responsibilities, and reopening discussions on online casino licensing that had stalled in Parliament.
CUOASEC members reiterated that their goals and objectives are in line with the government’s agenda, pointing out that illegal gaming “has flourished in all its forms” throughout the country. According to them, the upcoming reforms offer a good opportunity to create a stable, legal market.
Regulation Separated from Operation
One of the central propositions revisits an idea debated during the administration of the former president, José Mujica: separating the roles of regulatory oversight and the state as a gaming operator. Under the draft framework:
Loterías y Quinielas would be transformed into the Dirección Nacional de Contralor de Juegos de Azar y Apuestas, a dedicated regulatory body.
The Dirección General de Casinos would become a decentralized service focused strictly on operations.
This structural change aims to remove conflicts of interest, align Uruguay with international regulatory standards, and establish clearer boundaries between public oversight and commercial activity.
Renewed Push for Online Casino Licensing
A second bill will restart the stalled debate over licensing for online casino gaming, which began in the previous legislative session before progress halted in the Chamber of Deputies.
While Estévez did not elaborate on the new regulatory approach in the meeting, CUOASEC has already made its position known. Given that its member companies have invested more than USD 600 million in hotels and casinos and provided close to 20,000 jobs, they believe they have the legitimate right to offer online gaming. They also maintain that each operator should be entitled to its own iGaming licence, even if companies later decide to cooperate through partnerships or shared platforms.
As Gama said, online gaming is an increasingly large chunk of market share being siphoned from physical casinos; inclusion is, therefore, key to long-term competitiveness.
Addressing Illegal Slot Machines Nationwide
Another law project will regulate the slot machines working in bars, small commercial places, and neighborhood establishments. Uruguay currently has about 6,300 legal machines, but an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 are illegal.
While Estévez did not disclose proposed limits or technical requirements, CUOASEC welcomed the regulation and claimed the number of authorized machines should not be higher than what is currently allowed. Protection of the legal operator, accountability, and control of the informal market, which has grown exponentially in recent years, are part of the objective.
A State-Run Online Platform
Besides the bills that are soon to be presented by the government, Senator Felipe Carballo submitted an independent proposal to the ruling coalition. The bill he has in mind contemplates the creation of a State Online Gaming Platform that would be operated, regulated, and controlled by Loterías y Quinielas.
Carballo’s project also creates, under his bill, a National Agency for Online Gaming Regulation, a public–non-state entity that should concentrate the regulating functions now scattered between different institutions. It also provides for a National Digital Registry of Bettors, which will unify all processes of identification and control for responsible gaming.
Looking Ahead
Uruguay is undergoing a crucial period in its gaming policy. Structural reforms, digital licensing, and the combating of illegal activities suggest this overdue modernization process is well and truly underway. As operators, regulators, and legislators converge on the need for clearer rules, the first half of 2026 may finally be the turning point that defines how the country balances innovation and market growth with public oversight in the evolving world of online gambling.
Source: YogoNet
