Gambling and Casinos in Argentina

Casinos and online games in Argentina

A total of 15 regions in Argentina already have regulated online gambling, but for the most part, they have very little time with the approved legislation, in addition to the fact that in some cases, operating licenses have not been granted. There are the provinces of La Pampa, Corrientes, Chaco, Mendoza, Santa Cruz, Río Negro, Misiones, Tucumán, Entre Ríos, San Luis, Neuquén and Santa Fe, as well as the last three to join the list, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Province of Buenos Aires and Córdoba.

The regulation depends on the province in which the player lives, something that generates a very different legal landscape compared to other countries. There is no national regulatory body, but each region has an institute in charge of supervising and controlling the proper functioning of the sector.

This situation in several provinces creates a legal vacuum, which is why you can find in Argentina, some foreign operators operating with international licenses in the country, either from Malta or Curaçao.

Beyond the legal issue, in Argentina the main developers of the market are present, such as NetEnt, PlayTech or Microgaming. In addition, there are several slots, such as Wild Mustang, Siberian Winter, Fortune Goddes, Chiquito and Prairie Treasure, Hot Dice or jackpots, such as Mega Fortune, Mega Moolah or Pearls of India,
While in the case of table games, some titles stand out, such as Baccarat, Joker, Double Exposure Blackjack, as well as different video bingo options, such as Maya Bingo or Calaca Party Bingo.

As for the casinos, you can find several well-known casinos such as Codere, Rivalo, Bet365, Betsson, Sportium, Casimba Casino or Gate 777. From ChoiceCasino we recommend that you review the page of the online operators very well, to confirm that they have the authorization of the regulatory body of the province or with an international license.

It is worth noting that thanks to the work of the Argentine State Lotteries Association, now the pages of authorized casinos have the domain .bet.ar, so that each player will be able to identify the operators more easily.

Online casinos in Buenos Aires

In Buenos Aires, the regulation of online gambling has only been around for a short time, something that will allow the industry to be given a boost in the region that has more than a third of the population. In the City of Buenos Aires, the licenses were granted to Codere, Boldt, Betsson, Ibiza, Betway, Upline and Ondiss, while in the Province of Buenos Aires, Bet365, William Hill, BetWarrior, Playtech, Betsson and Pokerstars were authorized.

Live dealer casinos in Argentina

In Argentina, the presence of the main live casino developers stands out, such as NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, PlayTech or Ezugi. In relation to the operators, everything depends on the province in which the player is located, since you can find several casinos that present this modality with a regional or international license.

Among the online operators that have a live casino, there are Bet365, Casino Casimba, 22Bet, Bodog, 1xBet or Gate777. When talking about the titles, it is worth noting that the most important games are present, such as Lightning Dice, Live Casino Holdem, Deal or No Deal or Power Blackjack.

Bitcoin Casinos in Argentina

In Argentina there are casinos that allow you to bet in Argentine pesos, in foreign currency and operators that offer the option of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, given the popularity they have gained. Among the casinos, Casimba, 777, Panda, Winz, Pinnace, 888casino, or 22bet stand out.

Land-based casinos and slots in Argentina

The activity of casinos in Argentina is completely decentralized, so each province has its own regulation. In the 23 provinces and in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires there are different rules and regulations, supervised by the regional body.

It should be noted that all regulatory bodies are grouped in the Association of Lotteries, Quinielas and State Casinos of Argentina, an entity that provides support, advice and training to all provincial entities in charge of supervising and controlling the industry.

Argentina has more than 550 game rooms and around a hundred casinos, with more than 90,000 slot machines throughout the country, data that shows the size of an industry that generates a large amount of money, thanks to the hobby of the Argentines for the game of chance.

In Argentine casinos in all provinces, the minimum age to place bets is 18 years, and some establishments are located in hotels, while others operate in independent lounges. Land-based casinos in Argentina are open from the afternoon until dawn, it can be 3 or 4 am, and on weekends, some even close after 6 am.

As far as games are concerned, Argentine casinos include a large number of slot machines, from different developers, as well as roulette, poker tables, blackjack, roulette, craps or Punto Banco.

All provinces have their own regulatory body and we can highlight the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos (IPLyC) of Buenos Aires, Lottery of the City of Buenos Aires, Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos (IPLyC) of Misiones, Provincial Institute of Games and Casinos (IPJyC) in Mendoza, Córdoba Lottery, Neuquén Gaming Institute (IJAN), San Luis Lottery, Santa Fe Lottery or Correntina Lottery, just to name a few, but depending on the region, it should be reviewed What is the body in charge of supervising the sector.

As for casinos, there are a large number throughout the Argentine territory, but among the best are Casino Puerto Maduro, Trilenium Casino in Tigre, Casino Hermitage in Mar del Plata, Casino de Miramar, Casino City Center in Rosario, Regency Casino Park Hyatt de Mendoza or Casino Club de Mendoza, just to name a few.

What games of chance do Argentines prefer

Argentines play the lottery a lot, so there are a lot of options in the country. There is the National Quiniela, Cordoba Quiniela, Provincial Quiniela, Santa Fé Quiniela, Santiago del Estero Quiniela, Quini 6, Telekino, Loto, Loto 5, Brinco, Mono Bingo, Combined Polla or Quiniela Plus. It is worth noting that lotteries also change depending on the province, since they must be authorized by the local entity.

Argentines are very passionate about bingo (there are many places in the country) and horse racing. Sports betting also stands out, both face-to-face and online, especially in some disciplines such as tennis, basketball or soccer, in a country as soccer-loving as Argentina.

As for casino games, roulette, blackjack, baccarat or slot machines are very popular, for which there are more than 90 thousand throughout the country. Among the games, Starburst, Secrets of Atlantis, Motorhead, Buffalo Bingo, Siberian Winter, Gold Mermaid, Wild Mustang or Royal Diamond.

Gambling contribution to the economy of Argentina

The gaming industry provides important contributions to the Argentine economy through taxes. A point to highlight is that the fiscal pressure in this country is very high and the gambling sector does not escape, since among the taxes we have VAT, the tax on gambling profits, the tax on bets and prizes.

The sector pays gross income and income tax, with rates higher than those that exist for other industries. The internet industry also pays the tax on online gambling, which is 5%. Another aspect to take into account is that companies must pay a fee, which serves as a license to operate. A study in 2018 highlighted that the tax pressure on the sector in the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires exceeds 60% in both cases, figures that show the significant collection that reaches the State coffers.

In the Province of Buenos Aires, which is the largest in Argentina, revenues from collections are allocated to various departments. The Buenos Aires police stand out, receiving 20%, as does the Ministry of Education, while the Ministry of Social Development receives 25%. In addition, 14% of the proceeds are reinvested in the racecourses of La Plata, Azul, Tandil and Mar del Plata.

According to official data from 2018, the gaming industry in this Province reached a turnover of 40,000 million Argentine pesos, so without a doubt, it is a key sector in terms of collection.

Taxes paid by players in Argentina

In Argentina, players are always kept under the watchful eye of the AFIP, which is the Federal Administration of Public Revenues. Argentines must make their respective declaration and pay, in some cases, the income tax, which includes what is obtained in games of chance.

There is also the Tax on Prizes for Sweepstakes and Sports Contests. The rate that is currently applied is 31% of the 90% that is delivered, but prizes of less than 1,200 Argentine pesos are not subject.

Self-exclusion and prevention of pathological gambling in Argentina

Each provincial regulatory body in Argentina has various Responsible Gaming programs. Advice, help, containment and self-exclusion are obtained, with face-to-face and telephone attention. In each jurisdiction, anyone with a gambling problem can receive the necessary attention.

The necessary information can be found on the website of each organization, but on the website of the Association of Argentine State Lotteries, entering the Gambling section: Prevention and help, you have the data for all the provinces.

Information from four large provinces in Argentina can be highlighted. In the case of the Province of Buenos Aires, there is a Compulsive Gambling Prevention and Assistance Program, with a free line for information and guidance, 0800-444-4000, in addition to offering the option of a self-assessment on the web, as well as self-exclusion.

For its part, in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, the program also has different campaigns to promote healthy gambling, as well as preventive talks, the telephone line for guidance: 0800-333-1331 and the option of self-exclusion.

This is repeated in all provinces, such as Córdoba, where they have a Responsible Gaming Program, in which they provide comprehensive care to problem gamblers and their families, as well as help and self-diagnosis tests.

In addition, the online gambling industry in Argentina has a program called “Responsible Gaming”. The main Argentine legal casinos are associated with this program, in which they have the mission of confronting problematic gambling and pathological gambling, providing advice to players.

Also, online operators present several options to implement betting limits. Limits can be placed on the playing time or the amount of money to bet, likewise, the possibility of suspensions or voluntary self-exclusion is offered.

History of gambling in Argentina

Throughout history, games of chance have developed greatly in Argentina, thanks to the fanaticism of the inhabitants of this country. Since the pre-independence era, there has been the presence of casinos, with cards, dice, roulette and other games, in large and small towns.

In 1893, Congress approved the national lottery, which was the first legal form of gambling in Argentina. In its beginnings, it was a charity lottery, so the money obtained was dedicated to good causes.

In addition, in the 19th century, there was also a boom in horse racing, which became a national pastime and the first Argentine National Derby was held in Palermo. Horse betting was legalized in the 20th century, but ultimately, few important changes occurred in relation to the regulatory issue.

In 1912, the first land-based casino in Argentina was built in Buenos Aires, specifically in the town of Tigre. Then the boom in gaming establishments began, which is why several casinos were created throughout the country, reaching today's impressive figure, which has more than 500 gaming rooms.

Argentina Gaming Regulation

Regulation in Argentina is totally decentralized, thanks to an important stage for legal gambling, which began in 1999, when the Supreme Court ruled on May 31, that lotteries, bingos, slot machines and casino games are not a national matter. From that moment on, each province independently determines which games are authorized in its territory.

All provinces have their own regulatory body and throughout the 1980s and 1990s, a large number of casinos were established, with the industry growing steadily to become one of the largest on the continent.

For its part, the online game has had twists and turns in Argentina. Since the end of the 90s, there has been a boom in online casinos, especially poker, and in 2002 a law on online gambling was enacted, but in 2008 it was prohibited from operating. In the midst of much controversy, the ban was canceled the following year, but a legal vacuum was created, with unclear rules, which prevented the development of the market.

Finally, in recent years, from the State and the provinces, they have turned the situation around, creating laws to regulate the market, with which they have given authorizations to various operators. Currently, 15 provinces already have online casinos regulated, in the midst of an industry that has everything to grow.

Characteristics of the gaming industry in Argentina

Argentina has one of the largest casino industries in all of Latin America. In the country of tango, there are a large number of lotteries, bingo halls, game tables and slot machines. The big difference with the rest of the continent is that the regulation does not fall on any national body, since each province has the power to legislate exclusively.

This situation generates a complex panorama for land-based casinos and online gambling, because each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires have their own regulations. In the case of online operators, in some regions it is legalized, while in others, internet casinos do not have any regulations that support them, so there is a legal vacuum.

Unlike other countries on the continent, all gambling legislation in Argentina is decentralized. Each province has its own regulation and an independent oversight body. There are more than 550 gaming rooms, with more than 90,000 slot machines, making it one of the most important industries in Latin America.

Several representatives of the industry over the years have criticized this decentralization, since in their opinion it causes delays in regulations, which have not allowed the consolidation of the sector. In short, we say that in the 23 provinces and in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, there are different laws, so a game can be authorized in one region and prohibited in another.

As for internet gambling, in recent years there has been significant development and currently 15 provinces have online casinos regulated. It is worth noting that a great growth of the industry is expected, after the regulation in the Province of Buenos Aires and in the City of Buenos Aires, which concentrate more than a third of the country's population.

Beyond this regulation, there is a legal vacuum in several provinces, so active online operators with an international license can be found. The whole issue of issuing authorizations, supervision, suspension, or self-exclusion of players, depends on each province of the respective body. You can find, both in land-based and in online casinos, the main game developers in the industry, who have a presence in the big casinos and internet operators.

At ChoiceCasino you have the main legal casinos in Argentina. You can find on the web, the reviews and opinions of other players, in addition to commenting on your own experience.
ChoiceCasino bears no responsibility for player reviews, nor for the service provided by legal casinos, which are named on the web. If a player has a problem, he must go to the regulatory bodies of each province, which can attend to them by phone, via the web or in person. On the website of the Association of Argentine State Lotteries, you get the information of the organizations of each province.