Argentina has a vast gaming industry with nearly 80 casinos, the most in South America. The casinos and bingo halls are spread among its 23 provinces and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires. The country also has an evolving online gaming industry.
Casino Supplier LicensingIn the mid-1990s, Argentina’s regulatory authority was decentralized, and each of the country’s provinces established gaming regulatory schemes for the implantation of casino gaming. Because each jurisdiction sets its own rules, regulation varies widely. For example, Buenos Aires has 24 separate authorities regulating, and sometimes operating, games of chance.
According to the Instituto Provincial de Lotería y Casinos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casino for the Province of Buenos Aires), the regulatory body for the lottery and casinos in Buenos Aires, suppliers of goods to the province are not subject to any formal licensing requirements. While it is typical for Argentinean gaming authorities to not require supplier licensing, some provincial or local regulatory authorities may require disclosure processes in connection with supplying goods or services to a gaming facility. Therefore, it is important to contact the provincial and local governments for information on specific disclosure requirements for each jurisdiction in which the supplier conducts business with a licensed gaming establishment.
Online GamblingArgentina’s first online casino was launched in 2002 but in 2008 the government banned the issuance of online gambling operators’ licenses at the national level, thus limiting players to online gaming operations that have been licensed by provincial governments and regulatory authorities.
1 In 2009, the country considered reversing the ban, but took no legislative action. As such, online gaming is regulated through a patchwork of provincial laws and regulations and is also subject to interprovincial agreements which allow for cross-border play between certain provinces. The lack of a clear and consistent legal framework has caused potential operators to be hesitant about operating in the country.
Argentina does not currently have a federal regulatory framework for online gambling, and the vast majority of provinces have not introduced online gambling regulation. However, certain provinces have issued remote gaming licenses to private online operators to offer gaming options to residents of their respective province.
2In addition, the regulation of sports wagering is also unclear, as federal law appears to allow sports wagering only if such wagering is offered by the national lottery. This position, however, remains unclear and has led to litigation in Buenos Aires regarding other potential operators who wish to offer online sports wagering options.
As the legal framework for online gaming remains at the provincial level and is continuing to develop, it is important for any potential gaming supplier to conduct a thorough analysis of the gaming landscape before entering the online gaming market in Argentina.
1Global Betting and Gaming Consultancy, E-gaming Companies Making Presence Felt in Argentina, March 8, 2011.
2Id.
