Fines of more than CL$10,5 million and prison for illegal operators
The Senate has sent the bill on gaming machines to the second stage, to the Lower House, establishing a total ban on the operation of gambling machines outside legally regulated casinos, as one of the main objectives of the bill that was passed by a majority of the Senate (29 votes in favour and 7 abstentions), and that will now have to be analysed by the Chamber of Representatives.
During the debate, it was pointed out progress made in preventing gambling in the most vulnerable sectors; however, doubts were also raised about how the right of individuals to choose and develop economic activities is exercised in the country.
Owing to failure in the Casino Law of 2005 to provide of the prohibition of non- gambling machines such as pin ball or so-called “skill machines”, a proliferation of unregulated machines invaded Chile and were authorized by municipal permits. The casino law does not enable gambling in Chile’s Santiago Metropolitan region, but this did not apply to the operation of “skill machines” inside Chile’s capital region.
Proposed Bill Details
Amongst the main points in the text of the Bill, at the first constitutional stage, on gaming machines outside the scope of the Casino Law, with a second report of the Government Commission, the Senate addressed mainly elimination of any type of so called “skill machine”, by definition that such machines would fall within the provisions of the Casino Law with their operation outside the regulated properties deemed illegal. Also, any permit to operate such machines, “in no way may be extended to games of this type made online”.
The proposed bill also regulates the sale and destruction of gambling machines by authorized operators, requiring them to keep a record that allows them to monitor the fate of these, in the manner provided by the regulators, establishing that they can only be destroyed through waste managers who have the corresponding and relevant authorizations.
The law also proposes punishment with minor imprisonment and a fine of between 11 and 200 UTM or up to US$ 14,000 to anyone who, without authorization, exploits games or gambling machines that, under the law, are reserved for a gaming casino operator. Furthermore, the proposed bill also incorporates in the list of crimes that constitute bases of the illicit money laundering and illegal operation of activities reserved for gambling casinos, with further prison terms.
