Data mapped out: How gambling is regulated across Latin America
The regulatory landscape of gambling in Latin America is rich and complex. It is also constantly evolving – and has been doing so at pace since Colombia became the first country in South America to officially regulate online gaming in 2016.
iGB has partnered with LOYRA Abogados, a law firm with experience in the gaming sector across Latin America, to provide an overview of the legality and regulatory status of various gambling types across the LatAm region. Click on the countries in the map below for individual profiles.
LatAm gambling regulation snapshot
LatAm has been a growth engine for the global gaming industry as more and more countries in the region update their gambling laws to bring in tax revenue and mitigate player harms.
The total gross win across LatAm (including the Caribbean) is estimated to have reached $35.5 billion in 2026, according to H2 Gambling Capital data. That is an almost tripling of gross win from £12.4 billion at the start of the decade – a compound annual growth rate of 26%.
All countries in South America allow gambling in some shape or form, albeit to significantly different levels and with myriad different regulatory approaches.
Frameworks in the region range from state-led regimes, as is the case in Uruguay, to fully liberalised open licensing systems as seen in the likes of Peru — as well as everything in between.
Key Takeaways
- Gambling is legally available in some form in all Latin countries in South America, but restrictions vary significantly
- Annual GGR on the continent is estimated to have reached $35.5 billion in 2026
- Sizeable grey markets still exist in several large LatAm markets due to a lack of explicit online gambling regulation
However, several Latin American countries, including Mexico, still operate with sizeable grey markets.
Six of the eleven LatAm countries included in our dashboard do not expressly regulate or allow online gambling — representing roughly 212 million people across the region who cannot access regulated online gambling products.
Nonetheless, the LatAm region has experienced something of a domino effect as regulatory efforts have triggered growing debate in neighbouring countries across the continent. This has perhaps been driven by the high-profile success of some countries’ reforms, which have raked in billions in tax revenue for their governments.
In Chile, for example, a law that would legalise online gaming is currently under discussion.
