BGC Partners With Chile Group To Curb Growth Of Black Market Gambling

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced they have agreed a pact with Chile trade body Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea (aPAL) to kickstart the development of online gambling in the country. Over the past few years, Chile has been trying to introduce digital gambling, but to no avail.

Although more than 7,000 miles separate the UK and Chile, the BGC have joined forces with aPAL in an effort to keep illegal gambling at bay.

Recent elections in Chile indicated a desire to bring regulated online gambling to a country where digital betting is not permitted but is also unregulated.

What are the terms of the deal?

The deal with aPAL is a one-year agreement, but the premise of it is to create deeper levels of engagement and ensure that Chile has a secure online gambling infrastructure. With Chile hoping to pave the way for formal digital betting as early as 2027, the BGC have been putting the building blocks in place.

More broadly speaking, the deal will see both parties exchange their deep-rooted regulatory knowledge as well as put forward best practices.

By doing this, it is hoped Chile’s policy makers will have a greater understanding of how the country can thrive in the continually evolving world of iGaming.

BGC on a mission

Apart from expressing their frustration over the contents of the UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget in November, which saw a significant hike in Remote Gambling Duty (RGD), the BGC have also been campaigning to reduce the impact of black market gambling, which has taken hold over the past few months.

The BGC’s CEO, Grainne Hurst, has explained how the deal with aPAL can be beneficial in terms of driving out illegal gambling. In a statement, she said:

“The BGC is pleased to be working with aPAL at a pivotal moment for gambling reform in Chile. Well-designed regulation is essential to protect players, raise standards and drive out the harmful black market.

“The UK’s regulated market shows how robust licensing, high standards and effective oversight can support safer gambling while allowing a well-regulated industry to thrive.

"This agreement reflects our commitment to sharing that experience and supporting evidence-based policymaking internationally.”

The view from Chile

Rather than perceiving the BGC’s involvement as an intrusion, aPAL has welcomed the deal. Reacting to the news, Carlos Baeza, Chilean lawyer and representative of aPAL, said:

“Chile has a real opportunity to introduce a modern, robust regulatory framework for online gambling that protects consumers, tackles illegal activity and delivers meaningful public benefits.

“By working with the BGC, we can draw on international best practice and ensure policymakers have access to high-quality evidence and experience from well-regulated markets.”

Building towards a brighter future

To an outsider, it seems unusual that the BGC wants to flex its muscles and join forces with a Chilean trade body. However, the BGC has been unwavering in its approach to tackling black market gambling.

While they will see their work as being essential, the BGC are also sending out a strong message that illegal online betting needs to be rooted out. It will be fascinating to see how this partnership plays out over the next 12 months.