A court in Argentina ruled to ban Polymarket as a result of a legal case by the Buenos Aires City Lottery and the Argentine Chamber of Casinos against the platform, claiming...
Argentina’s iGaming Boom: A Closer Look at an Expanding Market
At first glance, iGaming in Argentina looks like the next big success story in Latin America. But the reality is more complex. With an estimated 4.8 million users and an approximate value of $1.72 billion in 2026, the growth is clear, but where does it go next? Stay tuned as we explore and break down regulations, laws, player preferences, and trends in Argentina’s online gambling market.
Table of Contents
- iGaming Argentina: What you need to know
- iGaming regulations and laws in Argentina
- iGaming player market and preferences in Argentina
- Top 5 iGaming operators in Argentina
- How is iGaming taxed in Argentina?
- How to enter Argentina’s iGaming market?
- How to get an iGaming license in Argentina?
- What does the future hold for iGaming Argentina?
iGaming Argentina: What you need to know
Argentina’s online gambling market is unlike any other, operating in a decentralized province-led system with a deep-rooted cultural closeness to gaming, especially to football, as you might have guessed. For anyone looking to understand iGaming Argentina and where it’s heading, looking beyond the surface-level growth and examining the real market drivers is a must.
With a population of more than 45 million, of which 90% have access to the internet and mobile devices, Argentina’s iGaming market stands out as the third biggest iGaming LatAm market after Brazil and Mexico.
This accessibility has completely transformed the way Argentinians gamble. Online platforms are no longer secondary to land-based venues, and for many users, especially younger ones, mobile betting has become the primary channel of Argentina’s gambling market.
iGaming regulations and laws in Argentina
What’s interesting is that Argentina doesn’t have a centralized gambling regulator. Responsibility is delegated to provincial governments and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, with each jurisdiction establishing its own licensing rules, tax rates, and compliance requirements. The main regulatory bodies that you should know about are:
- The Lottery of the City of Buenos Aires (LOTBA)
- The Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos (IPLyC) in Buenos Aires Province
- The lottery and gaming authorities in the remaining 23 provinces
National vs provincial iGaming laws in Argentina
First of all, the legal status of iGaming in Argentina differs from province to province. While anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules, data protection, advertising limits, domain, and indirect taxes are established by national laws, the City of Buenos Aires and the 23 provinces have independent power to grant licenses and supervise operators. The problem is that if an operator wishes to offer services in multiple provinces, then a separate license is required for each one.
Talking about national advertising laws, in December 2025, Argentina imposed new legislation requiring operators to display “Compulsive gambling is harmful to your health” and “+18” mandatory messages on all gambling ads. Regarding affiliate marketing, the appearance of influencers, celebrities, and public figures is heavily restricted as a measure to prevent the rise of gambling among young and vulnerable groups.
If we look at individual provinces, there are quite a few that catch one’s eye with rather developed and clear iGaming laws, those being Buenos Aires, the City of Buenos Aires (CABA), Cordoba, Misiones, Santa Fe, and San Juan.
Interestingly, the Santiago del Estero province is the only one that has explicitly banned online gambling in Argentina.
iGaming player market and preferences in Argentina
Argentina’s iGaming player base is a hot topic; it’s large, it’s diverse, and it’s extremely engaged. According to extensive user surveys (multiple choice) from Blask, around 60% of players in Argentina gamble mainly to win money, 40% play for entertainment or to pass time, and 35% seek excitement or adrenaline.
Spending habits are more or less moderate but consistent, with around 63% of players spending under $15 monthly; however, more than half of users gamble weekly, as 64% place bets at least once a week.
Sports betting is, of course, the dominant sector in iGaming Argentina, but the market is still more diverse than it appears, as the market research report by iGaming Today shows:
| Sports betting (mainly football) | ~47.3% |
| Lottery games | ~41.8% |
| Online slots | ~29.1% |
| Card games | ~18.2% |
By the way, live and interactive formats are on the rise too, with 35% of players engaging in live casino products.
Mobile is the player-preferred method, no question there. High smartphone penetration, with an average of 1.4 mobile subscriptions per person and an average internet speed of over 35 Mbps, means that most users place bets via mobile platforms rather than desktop.
Regarding payment methods, reports from the Argentine State Lotteries Association (ALEA) show that 49% of players use digital wallets, while 23% prefer in-person betting, as they believe it’s safer and less vulnerable to fraud than iGaming.
Despite so much effort to regulate each province, player loyalty is not strongly connected to iGaming regulations in Argentina. Many players continue to engage with offshore platforms, prioritizing payouts, convenience, and bonuses over the licensing status.
Top 5 iGaming operators in Argentina
We discussed what players in Argentina prefer, but where do they access these services? Search demand data for April 2026 from ahrefs reveals that brand visibility in Argentina’s iGaming market is quite concentrated on a small group of international operators. Let’s look at the five biggest ones:
- Betsson – 1.79 million searches
- Bet365 – 967,000 searches
- Betano – 772,900 searches
- Stake – 482,100
- JugaBet – 237,800
This shows a clear trend; the market is dominated by established global brands, but interest in newer operators is growing as more operators begin competing for attention.
How is iGaming taxed in Argentina?
The iGaming taxation system in Argentina is a mix of federal and provincial layers, creating a structure that can heavily vary based on the jurisdiction.
Federal level | Provincial level |
| 1. 5% tax on sports betting turnover 2. 5% tax on casino GGR 3. Corporate income tax on operators | 1. Buenos Aires City: up to 25% GGR tax 2. Buenos Aires Province: Around 10% GGR tax 3. Other provinces: Mostly from 15% to 20% tax |
As stated in the ICLG’s report on Argentina’s gambling laws and regulations, all operators have to pay a 21% VAT at the national level, while the corporate income tax mentioned above can range from 25% to 35%, with an additional 7% withholding tax applied to dividend distributions. Depending on the legal status, registration, and level of investment, an indirect tax is imposed specifically on iGaming in Argentina, which can fall between 2.3% and 15%.
How to enter Argentina’s iGaming market?
The list of things that are needed to enter Argentina’s online gambling market is long, to say the least, and with no single entry point, the process requires a localized and targeted approach. The key points include:
- A casino platform with built-in Spanish support, ARS currency, and localized content
- A game aggregator to connect operators with a certified content provider and games that meet the country’s standards
- Payment system with options like Rapipago, Pago Fácil, and local bank cards
- KYC and AML measures that can verify local ID documents
- Games tested in advance by an independent lab – GLI (Gaming Laboratories International), BMM Testlabs, eCOGRA
How to get an iGaming license in Argentina?
After taxes and regulations, we’ve now reached the most important part of understanding how to get an iGaming license in Argentina. One thing that applies to all operators is that every single one has to use the .bet.ar domain if they even want to qualify for an iGaming license in Argentina. In Buenos Aires, which is considered a much bigger market compared to the other provinces, licenses are often limited and distributed through competitive tenders. Logically, this makes partnerships with local entities one of the most common entry methods for international operators.
But looking at the process of getting an iGaming license in Argentina more deeply, there are multiple steps one must go through to be able to successfully submit an iGaming license application:
1. Register a joint venture in the province you’re seeking to operate in
2. Establish a cooperation agreement showing that the local partner will get at least 15% of the profits
3. Create a list of stockholders and make sure no criminal convictions or bankruptcies have been filed in the past
4. Provide tax certificates and corporate register details from the country where the parent company is based
5. Include statements showing how you’re going to follow local codes and regulatory norms, and add a corporate governance framework for being accountable to the regulator
6. Provide proof that the joint venture will be the licensee, not a contractor for an offshore parent company
This is not all of it; all applicants have to pay a $30,000 state license fee, which will cover the administrative costs of reviewing the application.
Despite all the effort required to get an iGaming license in Argentina, it doesn’t remain valid forever. iGaming licenses are only granted for a given amount of time based on the province, but the period can go up to 15 years in provinces like Cordoba. Unfortunately, the license does not automatically renew after expiration. The regulator must be notified beforehand, and a reevaluation of the operations must be conducted to decide whether the license can be extended.
What does the future hold for iGaming Argentina?
Taking into consideration everything that we covered, the next few years are looking promising for iGaming in Argentina, to say the least. By 2029, the overall gambling market in Argentina is projected to reach $6.6 billion with a CAGR of 4.49%, while the online sector alone is growing at a 9% CAGR.
In iGaming 2026, 4 trends can be easily observed in Argentina’s online gambling market:
- The expansion of regulation
- Reduction of the grey market through enforcement
- Further growth in mobile-first gaming
- Increased demand for live and interactive products
The market’s fragmented structure, on the other hand, is unlikely to change. Provincial control will continue to be strongly embedded, which means that complexity will keep on defining Argentina’s iGaming market.
It’s fair to think that iGaming in Argentina isn’t the easiest to navigate, but that’s exactly what makes it interesting. Its unique structure means that there is no shortcut to entering or expanding in the market. With growing attention on Latin America, industry events such as the AffPapa Conference Cancun in November 2026 reflect the region’s position as a global iGaming market.
For anyone who’s following iGaming in LatAm, know that Argentina continues to be one of the most important markets to watch out for. Join AffPapa now to always be on top of what’s happening in the wider iGaming industry.
iGaming Argentina: FAQs
Is iGaming legal in Argentina?
iGaming is legal in Argentina, but it is subject to national and provincial regulations and specific license requirements.
What is the legal gambling age in Argentina?
The legal gambling age in Argentina is 18.
Do you need a separate iGaming license for each province in Argentina?
Yes, operators need separate iGaming licenses for each of the 23 provinces in Argentina and the City of Buenos Aires, as the country doesn’t have a national licensing system.
What are the most popular types of online gambling in Argentina?
The most popular types of online gambling in Argentina are sports betting (47.3%), lottery games (41.8%), online slots (29.1%), and card games (18.2%).
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