Chile Implements Continuous DNS Blocking for Unauthorized Gambling Sites

The Santiago Appeal Court in Chile has approved a DNS-based method to block unauthorized online gambling and betting sites. This new process allows for the inclusion of new domains and mirror sites without the need to reopen the original court case. Furthermore, it involves a review phase to prevent erroneous blocking of legitimate online services.

The decision follows a resolution from the Supreme Court that ordered internet service providers to block unauthorized online gambling sites. In May, the Santiago Appeal Court instructed the Undersecretary of Telecommunications (Subtel) to detail how providers could technically implement the mandated blocking. Under this process, entities like the Chilean Lottery and the Concepción Lottery can present domains and related sites that are suspected to be linked to unauthorized betting platforms.

Process and Involvement of the Superintendence of Casinos

The Superintendence of Casinos of Game (SCJ) will evaluate whether the reported addresses fall within the scope of the court ruling. If it is confirmed that a domain is related to unauthorized betting, Subtel will send the validated address to internet service providers to include it in their DNS blocking systems. These providers will need to implement the blocking within the timeframe set by Subtel and report their compliance to the Santiago Appeal Court.

Continuous Updates and Corrections

The system will remain open to updates, allowing for the examination of new domains and mirror sites when operators seek to evade the blocking by changing web addresses. The procedure also allows for corrections if a blocking affects a legitimate service. The Court opted for DNS blocking following a technical proposal from Subtel. This method focuses on individually validated domains, deemed more proportional than broader technical measures that could lead to excessive blocking of legal content.

Origin of the Case and Legal Actions

The case originated from a protection action filed by the Concepción Lottery against telecommunications companies like Claro, Entel, GTD Manquehue, Telefónica Chile, WOM, and VTR. The lottery argued that these providers allowed access to online betting services without the necessary legal or administrative authorization in Chile. In September 2025, the Supreme Court affirmed the lottery's claim and ordered providers to block the gambling sites identified in the process, determining that they could not broadcast or promote gambling without the necessary authorization.

This new framework addresses a practical enforcement issue that emerged after the original ruling: operators could switch to alternative domain names or mirror sites after a given address was blocked.