Uruguay Proposes End to Online Casino State Monopoly

A fundamental shift is underway in Uruguay's gambling market. The Chamber of Operators and Lessors of Casino and Entertainment Hall Services, known as CUOASEC, has submitted a formal legislative proposal to the Executive Branch to regulate online gambling. The association, established at the end of November 2025, represents prominent heavyweights such as Codere and Baluma S.A., the owner of the famous Enjoy Punta del Este. This step aims to break the current state monopoly, which only allows online sports betting through Supermatch, and open it up to private providers.

The current situation in the South American country is unsatisfactory for licensed operators. While land-based casinos are subject to strict rules, numerous international platforms operate without local authorization. According to CUOASEC, this leads not only to massive tax evasion but also distorts competition. The new proposal envisions that online licenses will be granted exclusively to companies that already hold a concession for physical gaming venues in Uruguay. This would keep the market controllable and firmly in the hands of established players who already maintain local infrastructure.

Numbers and facts

A central point of the project is the funding of social measures. A planned fund within the General Directorate of Casinos is to be fed with a share between 5 and 8 percent of gross gaming revenue (GGR). This money is earmarked for the prevention of gambling harm and the treatment of addiction. Those who do not follow the new rules face significant penalties. Fines are expected to range between 10,000 UYU (approx. 245 Euro) and 100.000 UYU (approx. 2,450 Euro). In extreme cases, license revocation is possible. To increase transparency, CUOASEC also suggests the introduction of a national user registry and the mandatory use of a .bet.uy domain.

Luis Gama, the executive secretary of CUOASEC, brings years of public sector experience to his new role. From 2012 to 2020, he headed Loterías y Quinielas, the Ministry of Economy's regulatory body for land-based casinos and online sports betting. Gama emphasizes the need for a strong voice toward the state:

„The chamber seeks to consolidate an industry voice capable of engaging with the State." - Luis Gama, Executive Secretary of CUOASEC

Background

This push does not come out of nowhere. As early as August 2022, the Senate passed a bill that, however, stalled in the Chamber of Deputies. Uruguay had already enacted a law in 2017 prohibiting the operation of offshore iGaming websites in the country. Nevertheless, the illegal offering continues to flourish due to a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. CUOASEC's new proposal goes significantly further, calling for the blocking of unauthorized platforms as well as strict cybersecurity requirements and player self-exclusion mechanisms. The goal is to bring Uruguayan legislation in line with international standards while strengthening data protection and money laundering prevention.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, the development in Uruguay has no direct impact on their daily lives but serves as an interesting comparison. In Germany, the market has been comprehensively regulated since the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). Anyone wishing to play safely in this country should exclusively use platforms listed on the official whitelist of the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL). These providers adhere to strict limits, such as the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros via the LUGAS system and the stake limit of 1 euro per spin for virtual slot games. Similar to what is now proposed in Uruguay, Germany relies on a central blocking file (OASIS) to protect vulnerable players. The Uruguayan plans for a national registry reflect this trend toward monitoring and safety that we have known in Germany for years.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German operators with a GGL license can see the developments in Uruguay as confirmation of globally increasing regulatory pressure. CUOASEC's demand to grant licenses only to experienced land-based casino operators is reminiscent of earlier German models, though here it was replaced by a more open but strictly controlled licensing process for online specialists. For GGL casinos, global professionalization means that acceptance for legal, regulated offerings is growing, while pressure on Curacao or MGA providers without a German license continues to increase through technical blocks and payment blocks. German players using unregulated sites waive the legal protection provided by the GGL.