Known in his homeland as “El Rey Arturo”, King Arthur, or simply “El Rey”, Chile’s midfield hardman Arturo Vidal has become embroiled in a match-fixing scandal that is rocking sports betting in the South American nation.
With his colourful Mohican haircut, Vidal is a veritable sporting superstar in his country.
He helped Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter Milan win league championships. And is the only Chilean to play in a Champions League final, appearing for Italian giants Juventus in 2015; although his team lost 1-3, with fellow South Americans, the Uruguayan Luis Suaréz and Brazilian Neymar scoring goals for opponents Barcelona.
But today glory has twisted to controversy for Vidal, who turned 38 last week, and he is mired in a scandal over his association with an online sports betting site he has actively promoted, amid suspicions of match fixing and conflicts of interest.
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) is looking into the case and Vidal could face punishment or even a FIFA ban.
iGaming Paradox
Yet, paradoxically, online betting operators in Chile, where iGaming is yet to be fully regulated, are hoping the scandal swirling around the country’s most famous football player will actually help advance a bill that is stuck in Chile’s Senate, roadblocked by fierce opposition from retail casino interests.
In mid-April, Vidal’s current team, Chile’s Colo-Colo club, “The Wildcats”–the most successful domestic side in the country, winning the Primera División 34 times in its 100-year history, and the only Chilean side to ever lift the Copa Libertadores–launched a sports betting platform called “Play with the King” (Juega con el King) that also offers an online casino, games and live events.
At that time, Videl presented “Play with the King” as his own platform and appeared at the launch, giving away football shirts and urging people to bet on the site.
Colo-Colo’s management immediately summoned Vidal and warned him to disassociate himself, immediately, from the betting house.
Investigation
Vidal claims he only lent his image to the site and now denies having any stake in the sports book, whose owners remain unknown.
Although there is no proven connection, many Chileans find it hard to believe that Vidal has no stake in the platform.
Interferencia, an investigative site, has reported that José Ignacio Valenzuela, a 31-year-old businessman, is the legal owner.
In February 2025, Valenzuela registered Pro Informáticos SpA, according to the government’s Official Gazette. He also registered its trademark with the National Registry of Industrial Property (INAPI) and began operations. Pro Informáticos SpA collects bet money through a payments transfer system.
The South American Football Confederation, Conmebol, has not commented publicly on the case, but is currently investigating the link between Vidal and the betting operator he promoted.
Disciplinary Code
Meanwhile, the highly-regarded newspaper El Mercurio has reported that Conmebol’s Ethics Committee could initiate proceedings against Vidal for a violation of Article 7 of its disciplinary code, which prohibits players from participating in bets or “having a financial interest” in matches.
Vidal has responded quickly and removed all promotional posts from his social media accounts, and the website also significantly reduced the player’s presence and image on its pages.
But Colo-Colo management is not happy with its star player.
“We spoke with [Vidal], and he explained that he was hired [only] as a representative,” said Aníbal Mosa, president of Blanco y Negro, Colo-Colo’s management company.
“But given how complicated the situation is, we [also] spoke with his agent, and he has decided to step aside because he is clearly causing us problems.”
Yellow Card Uproar
In Colo-Colo’s match against Racing, bets were placed on Vidal receiving a yellow card. And sure enough, the midfielder was sent off in the 63rd minute after receiving a second yellow card.
Attorney Carlos Baeza, the group’s legal representative, said the case reveals the risks of Chile’s lack of regulation for iGaming.
“We have always maintained that this is an industry that should be regulated, and this situation only confirms the need,” Baeza told iGamingFuture.
“The public uproar surrounding what happened with Vidal actually helps us generate more pressure on parliamentarians and authorities to accelerate the regulatory process. As a group, we are against all conflicts of interest, and this one, involving Vidal, is all too obvious,” Baeza added.
Propelled by the looming scandal, it is now hoped that the iGaming regulation bill will go forward in Congress and become law.
“Its progress is urgent,” affirmed Baeza. “ An unregulated industry puts us in the worst-case scenario. On the one hand, it doesn’t have the possibility of contributing to the tax coffers through the payment of taxes—at a time when the country is also going through a delicate fiscal situation—and, on the other, conflicts of interest and public trust enjoy no protection.
“In this scenario, the Ministry of Finance’s obligation to adequately lead and advance the process of regulating this industry becomes imperative, with a modern, pragmatic, and technical approach, not only to provide Chile with a law that integrates vast international experience and maximizes tax revenue, but, above all, effectively protects consumers,” he added.
