A survey shows Chilean concern over online betting
According to a GPS Ciudadano survey conducted by Datavoz, 57.2 percent of adults in Chile expressed a lot or a fair amount of concern about online gambling as a potential problem for minors under 18 years of age. The study was based on 1,216 online interviews conducted between July 22 and 27, 2026, with responses adjusted according to the population parameters of the National Institute of Statistics, the Casen survey, and the Census.
The results show that the perception of the issue differs significantly by age, as concern reaches 28.5 percent of respondents aged 18 to 34, rises to 44.9 percent among those aged 35 to 44, reaches 59.2 percent in the 44 to 54 age group, and peaks at 70.8 percent among those over 55. The survey also identified a difference between those primarily responsible for the care of minors and those who do not fulfill that role, with 49.8 percent of primary caregivers expressing a lot or a fair amount of concern compared to 61.7 percent of those without minors in their care. This gap is particularly marked among young adults, where only 18.8 percent of caregivers aged 18 to 34 expressed a high level of concern compared to 53.1 percent of people of that age without caregiving responsibilities. This relationship is reversed among those over 55, with 81 percent among caregivers versus 68 percent among those who do not fulfill that role.
The perception of online gambling appears within a broader debate about the challenges associated with parenting and the digital environment. When asked about the main challenges for parents and caregivers, with the option to select up to three alternatives, 62.4 percent pointed to excessive screen time and social media, followed by a lack of discipline or boundaries, mentioned by 51.3 percent, and a lack of time for parents or caregivers, at 46.8 percent. Thus, concern about online gambling is part of a broader scenario related to children's and adolescents' access to content and activities within the digital environment.
The survey also asked adults about the approach the State should take regarding online gambling, at a time when the discussion about industry regulation is one of the central topics on the parliamentary agenda. 58.4 percent favored maintaining the prohibition of these platforms, while 41.6 percent believed they should be authorized and regulated. For Jorge Fábrega, managing partner of Social Trends at Datavoz, the results reflect that the debate is not limited to the decision between prohibiting or regulating the activity, but also involves the conditions under which children and adolescents interact with a digital environment where this type of content is present.
Tags: Datavoz, Citizen GPS, online betting in Chile, minor protection