A catalyst-controlled acylationreaction of β-ketoesters was developed for the first time by combining visible-light photoactivation with Lewis acid or base catalysis. By employing a NiCl2·glyme complex with a bis(oxazoline) ligand as the Lewis acid catalyst, C-acylation products are exclusively achieved, while utilizing pyridine or DABCO as the Lewis base catalyst affords O-acylation products with