Uruguay reopens debate on online gambling regulation with new bill
The debate over online gambling regulation has once again taken center stage in the Uruguayan Parliament. Senator Felipe Carballo presented a bill proposing to establish a comprehensive framework for internet betting, aiming to organize an expanding market, reduce illegal gambling, and ensure economic benefits for the State.
As reported by El Observador, the proposal includes the creation of a State Online Gambling Platform, managed by the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas, responsible for operating, regulating, and supervising the digital offering of games of chance. The model, of a mixed nature, would allow the State to participate directly in the exploitation of part of the activity, while enabling the involvement of private operators under strict technical, fiscal, and health regulations.
“Uruguay must legislate with strategic vision and a sense of responsibility. The absence of regulation does not prevent the phenomenon from occurring; it only worsens its consequences,” Carballo stated in a column published in Montevideo Portal.
New authority and national registry of bettors
The bill also foresees the creation of the National Agency for Online Gambling Regulation, a non-state public entity that will concentrate competencies currently dispersed between the General Directorate of Casinos and the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas.
Among its functions would be:
- Granting licenses to private operators.
- Supervising platforms, algorithms, and transactions.
- Implementing a National Digital Registry of Bettors with financial traceability.
- Regulating advertising and marketing strategies.
- Coordinating public health policies and digital education.
- Imposing sanctions or revoking licenses in case of non-compliance.
Article 5 establishes that anyone participating in online betting must be registered, with configurable spending limits and identity controls. Additionally, the exploitation of unauthorized games for profit will be classified as a crime.
A State at a disadvantage against a global market
In the statement of reasons, Carballo argues that the State monopoly model in place since the 19th century has been surpassed by the digitalization of gambling and the advance of international platforms operating without supervision.
The document warns that the use of cryptocurrencies, digital wallets, and private networks (VPNs) has reduced the State’s ability to exercise control and collect taxes, generating economic, health, and social risks.
“The expansion of global operators has placed the Uruguayan State at a disadvantage against an unregulated market. Regulating is not promoting gambling, but protecting citizens,” the legislator noted.
Background: a pending debate since 2022
The discussion about online gambling is not new in Uruguay. In 2022, during Luis Lacalle Pou’s government, a similar bill — promoted by the Ministry of Economy — was approved in the Senate but rejected in the Chamber of Deputies due to lack of political consensus and tensions within the ruling coalition.
The original text allowed physical casinos to offer their games online, but some legislators proposed expanding licenses to companies without a physical presence, which generated resistance. The inclusion of online sports betting was also debated, a point that further divided positions.
Meanwhile, La Banca, the state gambling operator managing Supermatch — the only platform authorized for sports betting — and private casinos continue to be the main players in the sector. Uruguayan football, for its part, receives around USD 500,000 annually from Supermatch’s profits, although the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has called to open the market to new companies to attract international sponsors.
New political scenario and projections
With the start of Yamandú Orsi’s government, online gambling regulation returns to the legislative agenda. According to sources from the Frente Amplio, informal talks with the Executive are underway to resume the discussion in 2026, although there is still no consensus on the scope of the bill.
The General Director of Casinos, Fernando Estévez, confirmed that the Ministry of Economy is simultaneously working on a sectoral regulation plan, while the Senate advances on the new text promoted by Carballo.
“Uruguay has the opportunity to transform an activity with obsolete regulation into a public policy that combines development, public health, and social justice,” the senator affirmed.
The proposal seeks to modernize the legal framework, strengthen state supervision, and promote a model of responsible and transparent gambling, aligned with regulatory standards from countries such as Colombia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Tags: Uruguay, iGaming Uruguay, Uruguay betting regulation, Uruguay online betting bill project