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The 25 land-based casinos in Chile have generated CLP 145.19 billion ($153.9 million) in Q1 2025, according to figures released by the Superintendency of Gaming Casinos (SCJ). Top Crypto Casino in Saudi Arabia – BitStarz Ranked #1

While it represents a 1% nominal increase from the $143.4 billion in Q1 2024, revenue declined 3.7% in real terms (adjusted for inflation and other economic factors).

The number of casino visitors also decreased by 3.7% in Q1 to 1,788,327. Of that, 1,689,729 were visits to casinos authorized under Law No. 19,995, generating gross revenue of CLP 135.3 billion ($143.4 million). The Puerto Varas casino has not yet reported numbers to the SCJ.

While casino visits have declined, spending has increased. The average expenditure per visit was CLP 80,079 ($85.16), representing a 0.7% year-over-year increase.

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As expected, with the decline in revenue, SCJ collected less tax. In Q1, the 22 regulated casinos contributed CLP 51.962 billion ($55.1 million) in taxes. That represents a 3.4% decrease in real terms to the $51.222 billion ($54.3 million) collected in Q1 2024.

The collection breaks down as follows:

  • Specific Gaming Tax: CLP 22.366 billion ($23.7 million). Regional and municipal governments split the proceeds and use funds for infrastructure and development. 
  • Value-Added Tax (VAT): CLP 21.604 ($22.9 million). Proceeds go to the general national fund.
  • Gaming Hall Entry Tax: CLP 7.992 billion ($8.5 million). Proceeds go to the general national fund.

The collected tax does not include data from the Iquique, Puerto Varas, and Natales casinos, which follow a different tax regime.

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While land-based casinos contribute significant money to the economy, online gambling remains unregulated in Chile. That means online sports betting and casino operators are exempt from taxation, oversight, and responsible gambling requirements.

Efforts to introduce iGaming regulations began in 2021. The efforts gained momentum in December 2023, when the Chamber of Deputies passed a bill to legalize and regulate online gambling.

However, the legislation has been stuck in the Senate since. There are many reasons for the lack of progress. That includes the Supreme Court intervening, demanding that Chilean authorities recognize and prosecute online gambling as illegal activity.

The lack of regulation means online gambling operators continue to thrive. This has raised concerns that Chile may become a target for illegal platforms that have recently ceased operating in other countries in the region, such as Brazil and Peru, which have recently begun to regulate their markets.

Regulating the markets has brought in benefits. For instance, in its first month, Brazil approved 173 gambling brands, each of which contributes to tax revenue.

Meanwhile, according to the country’s gambling regulator, Peru has seen a 40% drop in traffic to illegal platforms since early 2024.

Chavdar Vasilev
Chavdar Vasilev

Chavdar Vasilev is a gambling news writer with several years of experience in the iGaming industry. He started creating promotional content but soon found he loved reporting on the industry itself. Since...