Casino Workers Call for National Law on Online Gambling in Uruguay
Uruguay.- 7 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Uruguay’s National Association of State Casino Employees, ANFUSE, has called for any future regulation of online gambling and betting to be established through national legislation with participation from all relevant stakeholders.
The union expressed concern over a potential market model in which digital gambling is predominantly operated by private companies while the state is limited to collecting concession fees and taxes.
Central Role for State Casinos
ANFUSE defended the ability of the General Directorate of Casinos, DGC, to play an active role within any future iGaming framework.
According to the union, the public body has the experience, institutional structure and qualified technical staff required to participate directly in the new market.
Public Governance
Workers clarified that they are not opposed to private-sector participation.
However, they believe any market opening should take place under strong public governance, with the state retaining a significant role in operation, regulation and oversight.
Impact on Land-Based Casinos
One of the union’s main concerns is the potential effect of online gambling growth on physical casinos.
ANFUSE wants policymakers to assess the possible impact on:
- Land-based casino activity.
- Employment.
- Existing operating structures.
- Revenue linked to the public casino system.
Employment Protection
The union argues that labour consequences must be explicitly considered when designing future regulation.
According to workers, the shift towards digital channels should not weaken existing structures or reduce the role of specialised public-sector employees.
Gambling Harm Prevention
ANFUSE also placed gambling-harm prevention at the centre of the discussion.
The union said the permanent and immediate accessibility of digital platforms requires particularly strong controls and player-protection mechanisms.
Self-Exclusion and Responsible Gambling
State Casinos already operate responsible gambling programmes and self-exclusion mechanisms.
ANFUSE believes those tools should be incorporated into any future online model and become even more important as digital betting availability increases.
Allocation of Revenue
Workers also want clear rules governing how revenue generated by a regulated online market would be distributed.
The union argues that policymakers should define in advance what resources will be dedicated to prevention, treatment and wider public policies.
Regulatory Debate
The statement comes as Uruguay continues to consider how its gambling framework should adapt to the expansion of digital platforms.
Different stakeholders have called for clearer rules to prevent online demand from remaining outside regulated structures and state oversight.
Participation in Working Groups
ANFUSE formally requested inclusion in the working groups that will define the future legal and operational framework for online gambling.
The union believes State Casino employees should participate directly in decisions that could significantly reshape the sector.
Next Steps or Impact
The union’s position adds another voice to Uruguay’s developing debate over iGaming regulation.
For ANFUSE, any opening to private operators must preserve strong public leadership, protect employment and guarantee effective responsible gambling safeguards.
A future national law will therefore determine not only how online platforms may operate, but also what role State Casinos will play within Uruguay’s digital gambling ecosystem.
Editó: @fonta
