Buenos Aires to Apply 2% Levy on Online Slot Winnings
Argentina.- 9 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Government of the Province of Buenos Aires will implement a new withholding regime applying a 2% levy to prizes generated by online instant-result games.
The measure will specifically cover slot games offered by the seven online betting platforms authorised to operate in the province.
Proceeds will fund health, education and social-development programmes while also strengthening provincial policies addressing gambling-related harm.
Seven Platforms Covered
The new regime will apply to slot prizes offered by the seven authorised online platforms in Buenos Aires Province:
- bet365.
- Betano.
- Betsson.
- Betwarrior.
- bPlay.
- Sport.bet.ar.
- Stake.
Operators will be responsible for withholding the applicable amount from qualifying prizes.
Weekly Tax Declarations
Authorised platforms will also be required to submit weekly sworn declarations.
These filings will allow authorities to verify that the deduction has been correctly applied and to monitor the amounts collected under the contribution.
Oversight will form part of the regime administered by the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos.
2% Rate
The provincial government has set the withholding rate at 2%.
It applies only to prizes generated by instant-result games, meaning products where the outcome becomes known immediately after each individual play.
Slot games are the principal category covered by the measure.
Legal Framework Dating From 2018
Implementation falls under Law 15,079, approved at the end of 2018 during the administration of María Eugenia Vidal.
Article 137 already establishes a contribution of between 1% and 3% on prizes derived from successive wagers on instant-result games.
The new resolution extends the application of that mechanism to the online channel.
IPLyC Resolution
Implementation was established through a resolution signed by the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos, chaired by Gonzalo Atanasof.
The measure provides the regulatory basis for applying the contribution to qualifying prizes generated through licensed online games.
The system will therefore become part of the province’s regulated digital gaming framework.
Revenue Forecast
The provincial government estimates that the measure could generate an additional ARS35 billion to ARS40 billion per month.
Based on the figures presented with the announcement, this is equivalent to approximately US$23 million to US$26.5 million monthly.
Allocation of Funds
Revenue will be directed through the Fund for Progress and Social Inclusion (FOPIS).
Resources can support programmes involving:
- Healthcare.
- Education.
- Social development.
- Gambling-harm prevention.
- Assistance for people experiencing gambling-related problems.
Buenos Aires therefore intends to link part of the economic activity generated by online gaming with social and public-health initiatives.
Statements
Buenos Aires Government Minister Carlos Bianco said the decision was taken by Governor Axel Kicillof and is expected to generate an additional ARS35 billion to ARS40 billion per month for the province.
He clarified that the contribution will apply exclusively to prizes from instant-result games available through the seven authorised online platforms.
Bianco also stressed that the mechanism is grounded in existing legislation and that proceeds will support the Fund for Progress and Social Inclusion as well as policies addressing gambling-related harm.
Gambling-Harm Strategy
The announcement also forms part of work undertaken by an inter-ministerial provincial committee addressing gambling-related issues.
Measures already implemented include:
- Prevention.
- Assistance.
- Monitoring.
- Education.
- Enforcement against illegal operators.
The provincial government is seeking to combine regulation of the legal market with measures designed to reduce risks associated with harmful gambling.
More Than 90,000 Students Surveyed
Initiatives highlighted by the authorities include a digital-wellbeing survey conducted among more than 90,000 secondary-school students.
The province has also developed prevention campaigns with particular attention to young people.
These efforts form part of its wider assessment of risks associated with betting and digital environments.
More Than 800 Reports Against Illegal Sites
The Buenos Aires government also said it has filed more than 800 reports against illegal betting websites.
The strategy is intended to reduce consumer exposure to platforms operating outside the authorised system and without the controls required of provincial licensees.
Biometric Identification
Legal platforms operating in the province also use biometric identification systems.
The objective is to prevent underage access and strengthen identity-verification mechanisms.
Provincial authorities state that these tools currently prevent minors from accessing authorised online gambling platforms.
Industry Context
Buenos Aires Province operates a regulated online betting market comprising seven authorised platforms.
Adding a specific levy on slot winnings introduces a new fiscal component within that ecosystem.
The initiative also reflects a broader trend towards linking gaming revenue with prevention, public-health and Responsible Gambling policies.
Next Steps or Impact
The seven authorised platforms will be required to apply the 2% withholding to qualifying prizes and file weekly declarations demonstrating compliance.
Buenos Aires intends to use the resulting revenue to support social programmes and policies addressing gambling-related harm.
With projected additional monthly revenue of up to ARS40 billion, the regime represents a significant economic change for the province’s regulated online gambling market.
Editó: @fonta
