Uruguay’s casino industry is stepping up pressure for a regulated online gambling market, with the country’s Chamber of Casino Operators and Service Lessees (Cuoasec) presenting a new framework aimed at bringing the rapidly growing sector under state supervision.
The proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and several political leaders, although it has not yet reached Parliament.
Cuoasec argues that Uruguay can no longer afford to leave online gambling outside a comprehensive regulatory system as digital betting and casino activity continue to expand.
Online licences could be tied to physical casinos
One of the most significant elements of the proposal is its approach to licensing.
Cuoasec wants online gambling licences to be available only to companies that already hold a licence to operate a land-based casino.
The chamber believes the model would make operators easier to identify and supervise, while connecting the emerging digital sector with businesses already subject to Uruguay’s gambling rules.
The proposal also maintains the principle that gambling should be considered illegal unless it has been expressly authorised by the state through direct operation, concessions, tenders or another approved mechanism.
For companies planning to invest in the market, authorisation would also be linked to establishing a physical gambling operation.
A single domain for legal gambling
Cuoasec is also proposing that authorised online gambling operators use the bet.uy domain.
The chamber believes a dedicated domain would make it easier for consumers to distinguish regulated gambling platforms from illegal websites.
That distinction is becoming increasingly important as Uruguay’s digital gambling market develops without a comprehensive online framework.
Cuoasec executive secretary Luis Gama argued that effective regulation starts with knowing exactly which companies are operating in the market and who is responsible for them.
Player protection at the centre of the proposal
The proposed framework would introduce several responsible gambling measures.
These include self-exclusion systems, protections aimed at preventing minors from accessing gambling services and greater transparency around the information provided to players.
Cuoasec is also calling for the creation of a dedicated fund for gambling addiction prevention and treatment, financed through revenue generated by the regulated sector.
The chamber has warned that the absence of regulation leaves consumers exposed to an online market where authorities have limited visibility over operators and player activity.
Political talks are already underway
Although the proposal has not yet entered the formal legislative process, Cuoasec has started discussions with political figures across Uruguay’s main parties.
The chamber has approached representatives including Frente Amplio leader Fernando Pereira, Cabildo Abierto’s Guido Manini Ríos, Partido Independiente’s Pablo Mieres and Colorado Party senator Pedro Bordaberry.
The proposal is also being reviewed by the MEF’s General Directorate of Casinos.
Cuoasec wants the political debate to move beyond casino gaming and include online sports betting as part of a broader reform of Uruguay’s gambling legislation.
State-run alternative adds another layer
Cuoasec’s proposal is not the only plan being considered for Uruguay’s online gambling future.
Senator Felipe Carballo has previously backed a state-led model that would establish a government-operated online gambling platform alongside a National Regulatory Agency.
That system would be responsible for monitoring transactions, maintaining a national player register and licensing operators.
The two approaches share the goal of bringing online gambling into a formal regulatory framework, but differ significantly over the role private companies and the state should play.
Cuoasec favours controlled participation by established land-based casino operators, while Carballo’s proposal gives the state a much more central role in operating and supervising the online market.
Uruguay faces a decision on its digital gambling future
The competing proposals put online gambling firmly back on Uruguay’s political agenda.
For Cuoasec, the priority is to create a transparent system that identifies licensed operators, protects players and gives authorities greater control over digital gambling activity.
With political discussions already underway and online gambling continuing to grow, the question for Uruguay is no longer whether the digital market exists, but how — and under whose control — it should be regulated.