Sports betting is legal but highly restricted in Uruguay, operating under a state monopoly system managed by the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas. The country's sports betting landscape is dominated by Supermatch, operated by La Banca de Quinielas, which serves as the only regulated online betting site in Uruguay (2). While the government has been working on broader online gambling legislation to modernize the gaming sector, sports betting has been deliberately excluded from these reforms and remains under separate regulatory control from other forms of gambling.
The regulatory framework for sports betting operates independently from Uruguay's casino gaming sector, which falls under the General Directorate of Casinos. Uruguay's Senate approved a bill in 2022 to regulate online gambling for casinos, but this legislation specifically excludes sports betting from its scope, maintaining the existing monopolistic structure (1). The bill was designed as a priority initiative to support economic development and address increased demand for online gambling following pandemic-related behavioral changes, while ensuring sports betting remained under the established state-controlled system.
"Sports betting is not included in the bill and would instead remain under the purview of the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas."
The current regulatory structure has faced criticism from industry stakeholders and investors who argue for a more integrated approach to online gambling regulation. Casino developer Cipriani Group, which is building a $200 million casino-hotel complex in Punta del Este, has publicly demanded that sports betting be included in the online gambling bill to create a comprehensive regulatory framework (2). Despite these pressures, the government has maintained the separation between sports betting and casino gaming regulation, with the National Directorate of Lotteries and Quinielas retaining exclusive control over sports wagering operations. This fragmented regulatory approach means that while sports betting is legal through the state-sanctioned monopoly, private operators cannot obtain independent licenses to offer sports betting services, limiting market competition and consumer choice in Uruguay's betting landscape (1).
Source:
https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2022/08/18/63895-uruguay-39s-senate-approves-bill-to-regulate-online-gambling
https://www.vixio.com/insights/gc-uruguayan-investor-insists-government-include-sports-betting-online-gaming-bill
Last updated: 24-07-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
