Atanasof: 80% of Online Gambling in Buenos Aires Province Is Illegal
Argentina.- 21 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Gonzalo Atanasof, President of the Buenos Aires Provincial Lottery and Casino Institute (IPLyC), has warned lawmakers that 80% of online gambling activity in Buenos Aires Province takes place through illegal platforms.
During his presentation, the official also stated that Argentina’s illegal gambling market generates approximately US$3.6 billion, highlighting the economic scale of unauthorised betting activity.
His remarks were delivered to the provincial Chamber of Deputies’ Gambling, Lottery and Problem Gambling Prevention Committee as lawmakers considered new legislation.
Challenges in Tackling Illegal Platforms
Atanasof acknowledged the difficulties faced by the regulator in monitoring unauthorised online gambling operations.
He explained that the IPLyC can identify only part of this activity through online monitoring and complaints, as unlicensed platforms operate outside the official supervisory framework.
The official highlighted that licensed operators must implement identity verification systems and biometric controls, including facial recognition, to prevent underage gambling.
Illegal websites, by contrast, present additional enforcement challenges because they operate without effective regulatory oversight.
Revenue and Market Figures
Atanasof presented several figures illustrating the scale of the sector:
- 80%: estimated proportion of online gambling activity in Buenos Aires Province taking place illegally.
- US$3.6 billion: estimated value of Argentina’s illegal gambling market.
- 97%: share of gambling revenue attributed to land-based operations.
- 3%: share generated through online gambling.
- ARS 530 billion: revenue reported by the regulator from gaming platforms between January and September 2026.
- 7 million: active accounts registered across the province’s licensed online gambling operators.
The regulated market currently includes seven platforms: bet365, Betano, Betsson, BetWarrior, bplay, Sport.bet.ar and Stake.
Atanasof also explained that, except for bet365, sports betting represents approximately 30% of activity across the remaining platforms, with casino games, slots and roulette accounting for the majority.
Comprehensive Gambling Legislation Under Discussion
The presentation took place during discussions concerning the proposed Comprehensive Framework for the Prevention and Regulation of Online Betting, introduced by provincial lawmakers Micaela Olivetto and Facundo Tignanelli.
The proposal aims to strengthen problem gambling prevention, protect children and teenagers, and combat illegal gambling platforms.
Atanasof confirmed the IPLyC’s willingness to provide technical information and support the development of effective legislation.
Meanwhile, Olivetto, who chairs the committee, emphasised the importance of incorporating the regulator’s experience into the legislative process.
Next Steps and Impact
Legislative discussions are scheduled to continue on Thursday, 22 October, with an advisers’ meeting to review the proposal.
The stated objective is to advance comprehensive legislation targeting illegal gambling and problem gambling before the end of 2026.
For Argentina’s iGaming industry, the figures highlight the challenges of digital enforcement and the need to strengthen consumer protection and prevention measures.
Editó: @fonta
