Uruguay will introduce online gambling ban, new taxes

Uruguay has green-lighted a piece of legislation that will ban offshore online gaming companies from operating in the country and also introduce new taxes on state-approved gambling activities.

Last week, the new “Accountability Law” passed the Senate by a 30-6 vote. Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez signed the legislation into law this week.

According to the bill, all forms of online poker and casino activities are “absolutely prohibited” in the country via remote channels.

Monopoly La Banca de Quinielas national lottery is the only licensed operator allowed to operate online gambling in Uruguay, although this exception will only apply to sports betting activities.

The operator will face a new 0.75% tax on the gambling turnover made via approved casinos, gaming halls, racetracks, and sports betting shop.

The legislation will also give new powers to the state to “adopt various preventive and sanctioning measures to prevent the proliferation” of online gambling. This could mean “blocking of access to websites, financial frauds, as well as the prohibition of commercial communications, sponsorship and advertising of unauthorized games”.