Chilean court rules DNS blocking is the correct method to block online betting sites

Chile's Court of Appeals has reinforced a Supreme Court ruling, establishing that blocking online betting sites through the Domain Name System (DNS) is the appropriate measure to prevent access from Chile. This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between traditional state-run gambling operators and the burgeoning online betting industry.

The ruling enables the specific identification of domains that are prohibited from operating within Chilean territory. These domains will be blocked by internet providers, following validation by the Superintendency of Casinos de Juego (SCJ), which will also handle complaints from affected parties. The Ministry of Telecommunications will communicate blocking orders to network access providers and implement continuous monitoring to counter parallel sites established by betting companies.

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a clear procedure for enforcing the block on platforms of betting that operate illegally in Chile. We hope that this procedure will be implemented as soon as possible, in order to give immediate compliance to the Supreme Court's ruling.

Felipe Dalgalarrando, president of Polla Chilena de Beneficencia's board, hailed the decision as a clear procedure for enforcing the block on illegal online betting platforms. He expressed hope for its swift implementation to comply with the Supreme Court's verdict. The ruling also comes as Chile's Internal Revenue Service has outlined methods for these platforms to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) on their transactions.

However, the Chilean Association of Online Betting Platforms (aPAL), representing companies like Betsson and Coolbet, voiced concerns. They described the Court of Appeals' extension of its jurisdiction beyond the specific case as "worrying." Furthermore, aPAL questioned the SCJ's expanded role, stating it exceeds legal competencies, and raised significant doubts about the network neutrality principle in relation to the blocking mechanism established by the court.

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worrying that the Court of Appeals of Santiago 'extends its competence beyond the specific scope submitted to its knowledge'. Equally worrying is that in this Court ruling, the Superintendency of Casinos de Juego is being attributed a function that exceeds the powers that the law grants it, while at the same time establishing a blocking mechanism that raises serious questions regarding the principle of net neutrality.