Chile’s Major Operators Form iGaming Responsable to Advance Regulated Betting Market

Five of the largest online betting operators in Chile have formed a new industry association called iGaming Responsable. Betano, Betsala, Estelarbet, Juegalo and Novibet positioned the group as a constructive counterpart to the state while Congress advances pending online gambling legislation.

The association aims to demonstrate that operators exist who are genuinely committed to rigorous standards, effective oversight and active collaboration with authorities. As reported by G3 Newswire, this development adds a third distinct industry voice to Chile’s regulatory debate.

Sandra Kemp’s Role at the Helm

Sandra Kemp leads iGaming Responsable. She holds a law degree from Universidad Gabriela Mistral along with a diploma in competition law and an advanced corporate governance programme from Universidad Católica. Her career includes work at communications and public affairs firm Burson-Marsteller, a role at SB Pay, and a position as the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional’s first female Executive Secretary. Kemp now serves as managing partner at Lake Consulting, a Chilean public affairs and regulatory consultancy she co-founded and has run since 2020.

In her first public statement as executive director, Kemp argued that online betting is already an established reality in Chile, and that leaving it unregulated or attempting to ban it outright doesn’t eliminate the activity — it simply pushes it toward operators with no standards, oversight or accountability. She framed the core challenge as ensuring the industry operates under a clear regulatory framework that makes room for formal, responsible operators prioritising the protection of minors and vulnerable users, contributing to public revenue through taxes, generating employment, and supporting the development of sport in Chile.

Risks of Delayed Regulation in Chile

iGaming Responsable joins APAL, representing operators Betsson, Coolbet and Latamwin under lawyer Carlos Baeza, and AgruGaming, the supplier-side association. With operators, suppliers and this standards-focused operator coalition all organised separately, Chile’s regulatory debate now has three distinct industry voices at the table.

Kemp said the association’s members will be bound by its principles from day one, regardless of how long the legislative process takes. The group pledged to work as a technical partner to Congress, the executive branch, regulators and civil society to build a framework that ensures market transparency, keeps minors out of the system, protects consumers and provides long-term stability. The association stressed that the current moment calls for moving quickly rather than waiting on the legislature’s timeline.

The primary risk lies in prolonged inaction. Further delays could entrench unregulated operators, undermining consumer protections and legitimate tax revenue. Operators should treat this unified industry voice as a prompt to engage regulators immediately, shaping rules that deliver stability before legislative momentum stalls.

Reporting: New Chile betting association backs market regulation (g3newswire.com)