Chile’s state-owned lottery operator, Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, has taken a significant step by filing a new criminal complaint against payment service providers allegedly linked to online betting platforms. This legal action accuses representatives of several payment companies of facilitating financial transactions tied to operators considered illegal under Chilean law, signaling a strategic shift in the country’s approach to regulating online gambling. Chile Money Laundering Allegations
The complaint specifically targets legal representatives of multiple payment service providers, including ALPS, Nuvei, Pronto Pago, Kushki, Pagadoor, and Khipu. Polla Chilena contends that these companies have played a crucial role in enabling financial exchanges between Chilean consumers and online betting platforms. The organization claims that these PSPs facilitate deposits, withdrawals, and cross-border payments that allow betting operators to function and collect funds from local users.
Rather than going after the betting operators themselves, the focus is on the intermediaries that provide vital payment infrastructure, emphasizing their perceived role in supporting illegal gambling activities. This legal move comes after previous efforts in 2022, when Polla Chilena filed a criminal complaint against online betting operators. That investigation was temporarily closed in July 2025 by Chile’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with charges.
Nevertheless, the case continues to develop, as the 4th Guarantee Court of Santiago recently rejected a dismissal request from Sebastián Salazar, owner of EstelarBet, who remains under investigation. The broader legal landscape involves ongoing proceedings by Chile’s Internal Revenue Service (SII) and private stakeholders, illustrating the complex and persistent efforts to regulate the sector. With this new complaint, Polla Chilena is shifting its strategy to target the financial infrastructure supporting illegal online betting, rather than concentrating solely on the operators.
The organization asserts that Chile’s legal framework grants exclusive rights to certain state-recognized entities, such as Polla itself, licensed casinos, LoterÃa de Concepción, and horse racing tracks. It claims that many online operators operate outside this regulated environment, often from jurisdictions outside Chile, complicating enforcement efforts and making it difficult to pursue liability directly against these entities. Consequently, the state lottery argues that payment providers are instrumental in linking Chilean financial systems with offshore betting platforms, effectively enabling illegal gambling.
According to the complaint, payment service providers facilitate Chilean users depositing funds through domestic financial tools like bank cards and electronic payment methods. The methods reportedly include Visa, Mastercard, WebPay, MACH, bank transfers, Khipu, and other platforms. Polla Chilena emphasizes that these channels are critical for moving funds between users and betting platforms, enabling deposits, withdrawals, and cross-border transfers, essential processes for the operation of online betting services targeting Chilean consumers.
The organization estimates that illegal online betting has resulted in financial losses of approximately CLP 50 billion (around €50 million) over the past three years. It also argues that these losses have negatively impacted public revenues, affecting funds allocated to sports programs and infrastructure projects through national institutions. Beyond the economic implications, Polla has expressed concerns about the social consequences of illegal gambling, including potential gambling-related harm.
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This legal development underscores the increasing regulatory and legal pressure faced by payment providers worldwide, as authorities and state operators scrutinize the role of financial intermediaries in online gambling markets.
Payment processors are seen as essential infrastructure that connects operators, customers, and financial systems, leading regulators to extend their scrutiny beyond gambling operators to include the financial service providers enabling these transactions. The outcome of this case could influence future payment processing practices within Chile’s burgeoning gambling industry, shaping how online betting is regulated and enforced in the country. Chile Money Laundering Allegations
