Polla Chilena Targets Illegal Betting Ads in Chile
Polla Chilena de Beneficencia has filed formal complaints with Chile’s advertising self-regulation body, the Consejo de Autorregulación y Ética Publicitaria (Conar), against several advertising agencies and audiovisual production companies linked to campaigns promoting unregulated online betting platforms.
The complaints come as Chile continues discussions over a future licensing framework for the online gambling industry.
According to the state lottery operator, the advertising campaigns may violate the Chilean Advertising Ethics Code because they promote gambling operators that currently lack authorization to offer services in the country.
Polla Chilena also raised concerns about the way the campaigns present gambling to younger audiences, normalize betting activities and fail to include responsible gambling messaging.
Agencies and campaigns targeted in complaints
Among the companies named in the complaints is Enelblanco.TV, which produced advertising campaigns for Coolbet featuring former Chile national football team captain Claudio Bravo. Polla Chilena stated that one of the advertisements included the appearance of a minor.
The operator also filed a complaint against Ampfy for advertisements created for Betano and broadcast on sports television channels. According to the filing, the campaigns may portray online betting as a standard entertainment activity while minimizing the financial risks associated with gambling.
Another complaint targeted Draff.tv for promotional content developed for Jugabet. Polla Chilena argued that the campaign used gaming-style visuals that could appeal to younger audiences and present betting as a regular mobile entertainment option.
Concerns over sports betting advertising
PartnerProd.cl was also mentioned in the complaints for television commercials produced for Rojabet. The advertisements showed viewers watching football matches while live betting odds appeared on-screen during the games.
Polla Chilena claimed that this type of advertising contributes to the normalization of online betting, particularly among football fans and younger viewers who regularly follow sports broadcasts.
The operator further criticized the absence of responsible gambling information in the campaigns.
Regulatory debate continues in Chile
The complaints highlight ongoing tensions surrounding gambling advertising in Chile while lawmakers continue debating legislation for the online gambling sector. Until a regulatory framework is finalized, questions surrounding the legality and oversight of betting advertisements remain unresolved.
The latest action follows earlier legal measures taken by Polla Chilena against illegal gambling activities. In February, the state lottery operator filed a money laundering complaint against payment processing firms allegedly connected to unauthorized gambling operations in the country.
According to the filing, six representatives of payment companies were accused of handling transactions for operators without legal authorization to offer gambling services in Chile.
Polla Chilena also noted that many online betting operators rely on third-party payment services located abroad, making legal enforcement more difficult due to jurisdictional limitations.
