TL;DR
- Each province sets its own rules: Argentina does not have a unified national iGaming law. Instead, each of the 23 provinces and the City of Buenos Aires regulates online gambling independently.
- Local licences are required: A separate licence must be obtained in each province where services will be offered.
- Tax obligations depend on legal status: Licensed operators are subject to national taxes such as VAT and corporate income tax, along with a sector-specific tax ranging from 2.5% to 15%, based on registration status and investment levels.
- Payment systems must reflect local preferences: Methods like Rapipago, Pago Fácil, and debit cards are widely used. Since April 2025, relaxed currency controls have simplified transactions for both players and companies.
- Supplier certification is mandatory in most cases: Provinces typically require platform and game certification from testing labs such as GLI or BMM. Some jurisdictions also require suppliers to register with the local regulator.
- How to Open an Online Casino in Argentina | SOFTSWISS: Marketing activities must remain within the geographical scope of the obtained licence. Affiliate marketing offers a compliant way to expand visibility while respecting local boundaries.
Overview of the Online Gambling Market in Argentina
Argentina’s online casino market brought in around 0.45 billion USD in 2023, and with total casino gaming revenue expected to hit 4.26 billion USD by 2029, the industry is clearly on a strong upward path. The perception of the iGaming industry is changing for the better. The fact that sports bookmakers sponsor many football clubs helps improve the industry’s image and promote growth. Other relevant factors that help this growth:
- The three largest racecourses in Latin America are located in Argentina, showing that a sports betting culture already exists
- 15 out of 23 Argentinian provinces already have regulations, and the other 8 are working on regulating their iGaming market
- The population shares a unique passion for football
A Culture of Betting: From Horse Racing to Football
Horse racing has long been a beloved part of Argentine culture, with betting deeply woven into its tradition. Over the years, off-track wagering – whether through lottery outlets or by phone – became increasingly popular across different provinces, reflecting the strong enthusiasm of local bettors.
On the other hand, in addition to the tradition of horse racing, most of the population has a passion for football. The main national league, the Argentine Primera Divisón, is one of the most popular leagues in Latin America (LatAm) and the rest of the world. One of the league’s biggest events is the Superclásico – the classic rivalry match between Boca Juniors and River Plate, Argentina’s two most famous football clubs. This match always draws massive attention in the country and is widely covered by international media.
A Century of Gambling in Argentina
Gambling has been part of life in Argentina for more than 100 years. The iconic Tigre Club, located near Buenos Aires, first opened as a social club in 1912, and later became home to the country’s first casino, which began operating there in 1927. The casino shut down in 1933 due to changes in gambling laws, but by then, it had already kicked off what would become a much bigger industry.
Today, there are about 170+ casinos across the country. Many of them have expanded beyond gambling – they host shows, serve food, and double as entertainment venues. Over the years, Argentina’s generally open approach to gambling has helped the industry grow and made it an attractive place for international iGaming companies looking to enter the market legally.
More and more casinos are trying to become part of this highly profitable market. The fact that the country is not regulated uniformly, but each province has its own regulations, causes some confusion for operators and players. We explain below how online casinos and bookmakers are regulated in Argentina.
The Legality of Online Casino Gaming and Sports Betting
Unlike other LatAm iGaming markets, Argentina opted for a decentralised model in its regulatory approach to gambling activity. Instead of federal government control, the nationalised industry allowed its provinces to decide on the most appropriate rules. As a result, the legal status of gambling varies from province to province.
On 31 December 2020, Resolution 795/2020 was published in the Official Gazette of the City of Buenos Aires to regulate the licensing of betting shops and online casinos and, at the same time, to open the application process for obtaining licences.
As previously noted, iGaming in Argentina is regulated at the provincial level. Each of the country’s 24 jurisdictions – 23 provinces and the City of Buenos Aires – has the authority to establish its own laws. As of 2025, more than 15 of them have already implemented specific regulations for online gambling.
The table below offers a quick reference on iGaming regulation in Argentina’s provinces, with comments and examples where online gambling is currently allowed or regulated. Because provincial laws change often, please verify the latest status with official sources before making any decisions.