Buenos Aires Province Lawmakers Consider October 20 Debate on Online Gambling Bill

The lawmakers in the Buenos Aires Province in Argentina are considering a meeting on October 20 to discuss a bill that regulates online gambling in the country. The measure, which comes from provincial lawmakers Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto, calls for a new set of controls on platforms, new ad limits, and more measures to tackle illegal gambling.

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The provincial Chamber of Deputies authorities are studying the date, and legislators say the proposal could be presented to a joint committee report to move to the next step of the process. The program aims to bring together various laws and proposals and form them into a comprehensive regime for the province’s online gambling market.

Bill Follows Months of Legislative Work

In February 2026, the Commission on Games of Chance, Lotteries and the Prevention of Gambling Addiction was set up, with Olivetto as its chair. The commission was set up to study the laws around gambling and consider several proposals that had languished in the provincial legislature.

The lawmakers introduced the massive legislation in October after months of meetings and discussions. The 64 articles in seven titles would change several aspects of the provincial legal framework, such as Law No. 15,079 on the regulation of online gambling, and the prevention of problem gambling and the self-exclusion register, Law No. 15,131.

Olivetto said earlier that the goal of consolidating the proposals is to “Many bills address the same problem in similar ways, while others offer alternatives that still need to be developed. The idea is to unify the committee process so that everyone follows the same path. My proposal, and I hope we can reach the necessary agreements, is for us to give preliminary approval to one or several bills in October—the fewer, the better, given the fragmentation of the initiatives. That is our goal.”

Stricter Identity Checks and Responsible Gambling Measures

These proposed laws would mandate that each player account is a personal and non-transferable account. In order to open an account or when users make deposits or withdrawals or place bets over a certain amount under certain conditions, platforms would have to have real-time facial recognition for age and identity verification.

Operators would also have to provide features to limit deposits, and have to show elapsed time and wagered amounts during each session. The proposed bill would also automatically end sessions after 60 consecutive minutes of use, without allowing the user to return for the next hour, as well as limit access to an account after the third login on any given day.

The proposal would enhance the self-exclusion process by diverting requests from the platforms to the Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos. For more serious gambling problems, a family member, spouse, or cohabiting partner may apply for a provisional self-exclusion registration with a health report from a professional.

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Advertising and Promotional Offers Face Restrictions

The bill would create substantial limitations on gambling advertising. Platforms would not be allowed to use the term ‘game‘ or images depicting betting as a play, recreational or entertaining activity. Additionally, operators will not be able to provide welcome bonuses, reloading bonuses, credits, loyalty-point programs or prizes.

The proposals would focus more on reducing promotional opportunities and the depiction of gambling as harmless entertainment. If accepted, these provisions would compel operators to review their advertising and customer interaction and make sure they comply with the new provincial framework.

Tignanelli Highlights Market Size and Proposed Funding

According to data provided by Diputados Bonaerenses, at the time of its presentation, the province’s 7 authorized platforms (Bet365, Betano, Betsson, Betwarrior, bplay, Sport.bet.ar and Stake) process an average of US$1.656 billion in monthly betting business.

“We decided to express it in dollars because explaining it in pesos produces an unreadable figure. It has 14 digits; we are talking about trillions. So we chose to convert it into dollars to show, in a hard currency, how much is currently being wagered solely on the legal platforms in Buenos Aires Province,” he said.

Tignanelli said a big part of the funds is going to overseas companies due to their corporate setups. The proposal would also mandate marketing spend matching on 100% of advertising spend for an advertising prevention of problem gambling fund and mental health. Diputados Bonaerenses estimated that operators’ gross profit is some US$70 million, leaving about US$20 million in the province.

The October 20 session is still on the agenda. If the bill were to pass, it would proceed to the next step in the legislative process in the province.

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Source: SBC Noticias