According to the Uruguayan Association of Casino and Entertainment Venue Operators and Lessors (CUOASEC)—an organization established in late November 2025—a bill aimed at regulating online gambling has been submitted to the executive branch.
The proposed legislation mandates that all online gambling activities receive state authorization and restricts operations to licensed providers subject to regulatory oversight. It also includes measures to curb unauthorized operators.
CUOASEC outlined three strategies to combat illegal gambling: blocking unauthorized platforms, creating a dedicated “.bet.uy” domain to identify licensed operators, and establishing a national user registration system. The association maintains that online gambling should be legally regulated to clearly define state authority and ensure effective operational oversight.
CUOASEC noted that illegal gambling fosters tax evasion and creates unfair competition for legitimate casinos. The organization further stated that players using unauthorized platforms lack any guarantees regarding transparency.
The bill also addresses operational traceability, personal data protection, gambling addiction prevention, anti-money laundering measures, cybersecurity requirements, player self-exclusion mechanisms, and a sanctions regime. CUOASEC stated that this framework would align Uruguayan legislation with international standards.
Under the proposed framework, online gambling operations would be linked to operators already authorized to run land-based casinos. Consequently, online casino licenses would be reserved for companies currently operating physical casinos in Uruguay—the very companies represented by CUOASEC.
The executive branch will determine the next steps following receipt of the proposal, although CUOASEC did not specify exactly when it was submitted. Details regarding licensing requirements, the role of land-based casinos in the online market, taxation, and the allocation of revenues will be determined at a later stage.
CUOASEC was founded in late November 2025, a time when the executive branch was reviewing the regulatory landscape for online casinos and physical slot machines. Its founding members include Codere (operator of Maroñas) and Baluma SA (owner of Enjoy Punta del Este). Its Executive Secretary, Luis Gama, previously headed Loterías y Quinielas—an agency under the Ministry of Economy responsible for regulating land-based casinos and online sports betting—from 2012 to 2020, before moving into private consultancy.
Gama stated that when CUOASEC was founded, the chamber’s goal was to “consolidate an industry voice capable of engaging in dialogue with the government.”
Uruguay currently maintains a state monopoly on online gambling; online sports betting is legally permitted only through Supermatch, while private operators are prohibited from offering online casino games.
A bill passed by the Senate in August 2022 has not yet been submitted to the Chamber of Representatives for consideration.