Polla Chilena to Report Mirror Betting Sites for Blocking
Chile.- 9 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Polla Chilena de Beneficencia has announced that it will maintain continuous monitoring of online betting platforms operating in Chile to identify new domains or “mirror sites” and seek their blocking.
The state-owned gambling company will report newly detected addresses to the Superintendency of Gambling Casinos and the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications so existing measures can be updated as platforms migrate to new URLs.
Initial Blocking of 42 Websites
The strategy follows an instruction by Subtel requiring six Internet service providers to block 42 websites through DNS.
The list was supplied by the Superintendency of Gambling Casinos.
The measure was implemented in compliance with rulings from Chile’s Supreme Court and Santiago Court of Appeals.
Operators Move to New URLs
Following the blocks, around ten online operators were reported to have migrated their platforms to new web addresses.
One approach has involved replacing local .cl domains with international extensions such as .io and other variants.
These replacement pages replicate the services offered through the original domains and are being treated as mirror sites.
Continuous Monitoring
Polla Chilena wants to prevent operators from circumventing the blocking of an individual domain simply by activating another address.
This will require continuous updating of the lists submitted to authorities.
Each newly identified domain can be reported to the SCJ and Subtel for potential inclusion in further blocking measures.
Statements
Polla Chilena de Beneficencia President Felipe Dalgalarrando said the organisation would continue supplying the SCJ and Subtel with every domain and mirror site it detects.
The objective is to ensure that blocking measures can be continually updated as platforms introduce new web addresses.
Casino Industry Support
The Chilean Casino Association supported Subtel’s decision and the implementation of the relevant court rulings.
Association President Cecilia Valdés said the blocking efforts should continue for as long as online platforms keep offering services in the country.
A Partial Solution
However, the casino association warned that technical website blocking does not resolve the underlying issue.
It called for a coordinated and coherent government response to online betting.
The emergence of replacement domains following blocks illustrates the limitations of relying exclusively on restrictions targeting individual URLs.
Different Signals from Government Agencies
The casino industry has also pointed to apparently different approaches among public authorities.
While Subtel is implementing website blocks following judicial rulings, Chile’s Internal Revenue Service has introduced a mechanism allowing foreign digital platforms to comply with Digital VAT requirements.
The casino association believes this reinforces the need for a more consistent government policy towards online betting.
Mirror Sites as a Regulatory Challenge
Mirror sites create a recurring challenge for authorities seeking to restrict digital platforms.
Once one domain is blocked, another address can be activated to replicate the same service.
Effective enforcement therefore requires monitoring systems capable of identifying new variants quickly.
Role of the SCJ
The Superintendency of Gambling Casinos participates by identifying and submitting websites associated with online gambling activity.
Its involvement forms part of the institutional process for implementing existing court decisions.
Role of Subtel
Subtel is responsible for communicating blocking instructions to Internet service providers.
For the initial group of 42 sites, the mechanism selected was DNS blocking.
The effectiveness of these measures will depend partly on how quickly lists can be updated when replacement domains appear.
Industry Context
Chile continues to debate the regulatory framework applicable to online gambling.
While lawmakers consider dedicated legislation, public authorities and private-sector stakeholders continue to hold differing positions on the legal status of international platforms.
Court-ordered website blocks have added another dimension by requiring Internet providers to restrict access to specific domains.
Next Steps or Impact
Polla Chilena will continue monitoring platforms and reporting any new mirror sites to the SCJ and Subtel.
The strategy aims to turn domain blocking into an ongoing process rather than an isolated action covering only the original 42 URLs.
The proliferation of replacement sites also increases pressure on Chile to establish a long-term regulatory framework with consistent rules for online betting operation, enforcement and taxation.
Editó: @fonta
