Currently in Chile gambling in land-based casinos is legalized, but there is no type of regulation regarding online gambling. Despite this situation, online gambling is not prohibited and the most prestigious operators with international licenses can be found.
At ChoiceCasino you can find 25 land-based casinos in Chile , where you can enjoy slot machines and game tables. They all have hotels, bars and restaurants, and some are also located in highly touristy areas, such as the casinos in Puerto Varas, Viña del Mar or Iquique.
For its part, with regard to online casinos in Chile , you can enjoy different versions of slots, poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette or bingo. In addition, it highlights the option of the casino with live dealers. The main software developers have a presence in the country, such as Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming or NetEnt.
Legal gambling in Chile
In Chile, gambling halls are legal and are governed by law 19,995, which was later modified into regulation 20,856. In these instruments is contained what is related to the control, authorization and operation of all casinos in Chilean territory.
The Superintendency of Gambling Casinos (SCJ) is the body in charge of "monitoring and oversight for the installation, administration and operation of the country's gambling casinos", as indicated on its website.
At the moment there are 18 gambling casinos in Chile, which are authorized by National Law 19,995 and another seven that have a municipal concession.
Land-based casinos and slots in Chile
Chile's 25 physical casinos have hundreds of slot machines, as well as table games for Poker, Roulette or Blackjack. By law, no casino is allowed inside the capital, Santiago de Chile, but there are three that are very close.
One can highlight the Monticello Grand Casino, which is located just 40 minutes from Santiago. It is the largest in the country and has a 5-star hotel, spa, shops and a convention center. In addition, its large machine room with 1500 slot machines stands out, as well as its different gaming tables.
For its part, about 50 minutes from downtown Santiago, we have the Enjoy Casino, located in the town of Rinconada De Los Andes. While the other alternative closer to the capital is the Enjoy Casino in Viña del Mar, one of the best known in the country, for being in front of the sea in this beautiful tourist city.
Location of casinos in Chile
The casinos by law are authorized and distributed in zones. There are three zones: The North (between the Arica and Parinacota and Coquimbo regions), the South zone (between the La Araucanía and Magallanes regions) and the Central zone (between the Valparaíso and Bío Bío regions).
There are seven casinos with municipal concessions in Chile located in Arica, Iquique, Coquimbo, Viña del Mar, Pucón, Puerto Varas and Puerto Natales.
While the 18 casinos authorized by Law 19,995 are: Casino Luckia Arica , Marina del Sol Calama, Antay Casino & Hotel in Copiapó, Ovalle Casino & Resort, Enjoy Antofagasta, Casino de Juegos del Pacífico in San Antonio, Enjoy Santiago in Rinconada and Sun Monticello in Mostazal.
In addition, the Casino de Colchagua in Santa Cruz, Gran Casino de Talca, Marina del Sol in Talcahuano, Marina del Sol Chillán, Enjoy Viña del Mar, Casino Gran Los Ángeles, Dreams Temuco, Marina del Sol Osorno, Dreams Valdivia, Enjoy Chiloé in Castro, Dreams Coyhaique, and Dreams Punta Arenas.
Online casinos in Chile
In Chile there is no law that regulates online gambling or sports betting, despite the great growth that has been seen in recent years. Several deputies and senators have launched bills, but beyond promises, no great progress has been made.
Despite this situation, you can find the best online operators in the world, because online gambling is not illegal. Due to this legal vacuum, there is no body that regulates the different pages, but all the casinos that we recommend at ChoiceCasino have an international license, mainly from Malta or Curaçao. Among the most visited online casinos are Energy Casino, Unique Casino, 22bet, 888casino, Bet365.
You have the option of sports betting, as well as different slot games, poker, blackjack, bingo, baccarat, roulette, such as Mega Moolah, Mercy of The Gods, Clover Party, Casino Hold'em Poker or First Person Blackjack . All the titles that appear on the operators are from the best developers on the market, such as Playtech, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play or NetEnt.
Live casinos with live dealer
There are many options to enjoy the live casino, as they are world-renowned online operators. LeoVegas, Betsson, Bethard. Betsson or MrBet are some options to play with a live dealer.
The games are transmitted with high quality streaming, since they are games from the best providers on the market, such as Evolution Gaming, Authentic Gaming or NetEnt. Online operators with live casino are available, totally safe thanks to the international license. Among the popular games, Monopoly Live, Lightning Roulette, Live Casino Holdem, Three Card Poker, or Caribbean Stud Poker stand out.
Bitcoin casinos in Chile
Currently in Chile you can find online operators that offer various payment methods and some even accept Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. In casinos like NetBet, 1xSlots, Betobet, Rivalo, 888casino, 22Bet or Vulkan Vegas you can bet with Bitcoin. From ChoiceCasino, we recommend that you carefully review the operator's conditions to bet with any type of payment, whether it be traditional currency or cryptocurrencies.
What games of chance do Chileans prefer
A very popular game of chance in Chile is the lottery. There is a duopoly in this country between the Chilean lottery and the Concepción lottery in Chile, which are the organizations in charge of launching the games. The Kino, Loto, Lottery Ticket or Al Fin le Achunté stand out.
In addition, slots are very popular, so there are many venues throughout the country that allow you to play. There has even been a strong controversy, because due to the lack of control, small casinos with slot machines were generated, but some of these rooms were illegal, so they were later closed by the authorities.
In all legal casinos in Chile there are huge machine rooms with well-known slot machines. Online sports betting is also very popular, especially in soccer, which is the most followed sport in the country. Betsson, LeoVegas, JackpotCity or RojaBet are some of the online casinos with the most followers.
Other Chileans prefer to play poker, blackjack, electronic roulette, and classic bingo, in addition to videobingo.
Contribution of gambling to the Chilean economy
The casinos in Chile contribute 20% of the gross income, due to the gambling tax established for all the establishments. Half of this collection goes to the municipality where the casino is located, while the other part is used by regional governments to finance different projects. In addition, the Chilean State collects a significant amount of money, thanks to VAT, and the tax on entry to the gaming halls. The Chilean Treasury Service is in charge of the collection.
Taxes paid by casino players
When it comes to land-based casinos, Chilean players don't have to worry about taxes. Any profit obtained below 100 million pesos is totally tax-free. It is not easy to win a bet higher than that value, so there is no need to make any kind of declaration.
For its part, in the online casino, players do not pay any tax at the moment in Chile, something that may change when a law is approved that regulates the sector.
Self-exclusion and prevention of pathological gambling
On the website of the Superintendency of Gaming Casinos there is an evaluation test to combat problematic gambling, as well as a voluntary self-exclusion system in all casinos in the country.
Voluntary self-exclusion can be carried out by any person of legal age, thereby waiving the right to enter the casino rooms. This procedure can be done remotely through the website or by sending a letter to the Superintendency of Casinos. In addition, the interested person can also go in person to the body.
On the website of the Superintendency of Casinos there are options for claims, queries, complaints or suggestions in relation to physical casinos. Also in Chile, there are active organizations that help combat gambling, such as Gamblers Anonymous Chile, Psychologists Gambling Chile, Contradicción or GameCare.
In the case of online gambling, there is no type of regulation by the Chilean State, but each operator has an international license and offers players the possibility of placing limits on bets, suspending the account or voluntary self-exclusion.
History of gambling in Chile
In Chile the history of casinos is long-standing. In 1885 the first gambling business was created in Pichilemu, but the project failed. Then came the first legal casino that was established in Viña del Mar in 1931.
Over the years, several small gambling businesses were created, but the regulatory framework in the country has never been very clear or uniform, so there were many inconveniences.
In the first half of the 20th century, there were 7 municipal concessions for the operation of casinos in the cities of Arica, Iquique, Coquimbo, Viña del Mar, Pucón, Puerto Varas and Puerto Natales.
Despite this situation, legal problems continued, because these casinos were installed with special laws. In recent years there has been a great growth of the industry and law 19,995 was enacted for the supervision of casinos. The Law allows 24 casinos to operate, while another large gaming center is protected under Law 19,669.
In August 2015, Law 20,856 was enacted, which created the Superintendency of Gaming Casinos of Chile. In addition to the large casinos, there are throughout the country a large number of small sports betting centers, or slot machines that are very popular. Some of these stores have even operated without authorization, so on several occasions there have been closures and controversies in this regard.
A point to highlight is that the investments of casinos in Chile have exceeded 800 million dollars and currently the industry generates more than 2,000 jobs. There are 18 hotels, 14 convention centers, 6 shopping centers and 9 exhibition halls. It is also worth highlighting the 4 amphitheaters, 4 museums, 3 theaters and 3 multiplex cinemas.
The gambling sector still has a lot to grow, since for example, there is still no law in relation to online gambling. It is expected that a law that regulates online gambling and sports betting in Chile may be published very soon, something that is under discussion by the country's deputies and senators.
Characteristics of the gaming industry in Chile
Face-to-face games of chance in Chile are legal, safe and available to all persons of legal age. The Superintendency of Casinos is the entity in charge of supervising and coordinating all establishments. The casinos and gambling halls are open to the public.
For their part, online casinos still do not have any type of regulation, but they are not prohibited, there is only a legal vacuum that has prevented further growth in the sector. Many of the operators are internationally licensed, although due to the lack of legislation, you can find casinos that offer no guarantee or security.
At ChoiceCasino you have all the physical casinos in Chile, as well as the best online operators available. To help other users, we recommend writing a review about the experience you have in a physical or online casino in Chile, in order to facilitate the mission to other players, when choosing the safest betting room.
It is expected that in the coming years, a greater growth of gambling, both physical and online, can be counted on in Chile.
At ChoiceCasino, the best physical and online casinos in Chile are recommended, but no responsibility is assumed for the services in these establishments, nor for user reviews. In the event of any problem, you must complain to the authorities, which in this case is the Superintendency of Casinos, which has different forms on its website, as well as a telephone help desk.