Uruguay has begun deliberations to regulate online gambling, yet the initial proposal for a mixed model centred on state-run gambling platforms falls short of President Yamandú Orsi’s vision for a balanced and fair market.

Uruguay has taken its first concrete step towards regulating online gambling in more than a decade, with a new bill introduced to Parliament to address the long-standing void in the country’s digital gaming framework.

Backed by Senator Felipe Carballo, the proposal seeks to “bring online gambling under the formal control of the State”. Yet, as SBC Noticias reports, it remains uncertain whether the Senator’s approach aligns with the direction favoured by President Yamandú Orsi or the Partido Nacional, neither of whom have outlined a definitive regulatory path for the market.

Mixed Model 

Carballo’s bill promotes a mixed regulatory system in which the state would directly operate a portion of the market while authorising private operators under strict technical, fiscal and public-health rules.

A central component is the creation of a State Online Gambling Platform, to be administered by the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas, which would assume wide-ranging authority over:

• licensing of private operators,

• oversight of algorithms and financial transactions,

• regulation of advertising and marketing practices,

• sanctions and licence revocation powers, and

• the operation of a National Digital Registry of Bettors, featuring full financial traceability and adjustable player-spend limits.

Speaking to SBC Noticias, Carballo framed the initiative as overdue modernisation: “Uruguay must not remain unprotected in a global market. The absence of regulation does not halt the phenomenon — it only worsens its consequences.”

President wants final say 

Despite Carballo’s push, analysts note that the bill stops short of defining whether Uruguay should pursue a fully controlled state model or open the market to broader competition –  a decision that ultimately rests with President Orsi and his cabinet.

As reported by SBC Noticias, Orsi has urged caution, signalling that reform will be incremental and centred on public-interest outcomes rather than political or commercial pressure. During a recent briefing he stated:

“Regulation cannot be dictated by market pressure or political expediency. It must be guided by what protects our citizens and strengthens confidence in the institutions that govern gambling.”

Football needs urgent gambling reforms

The need for clarity is increasingly visible across Uruguay’s football ecosystem, which has become heavily reliant on international betting sponsors. Clubs and federations argue that the current model — dependent solely on the state-run Supermatch platform — leaves the sport chronically underfunded.

An AUF representative told SBC Noticias: “Football in Uruguay cannot remain tied to an outdated structure. A regulated and open market would allow the sport to grow and bring new investment into the country.”