Argentina’s Senate is weighing two online gambling bills with very different rules for operators

Online gambling regulation is back on Argentina’s political agenda, with two pending bills in the Senate that take opposite approaches to licensing, advertising, and enforcement. For PSPs, acquirers, and banks, the difference matters because one text tightens rules on authorized operators, while the other focuses more on illegal platforms and underage access.

1. One of the bills already passed the Chamber of Deputies in November 2024 and could lose parliamentary status if it does not move before the end of the current session. The other was introduced by the Executive in May 2026 and has not yet been debated by senators.
2. The Deputies version takes the harder line across the board: advertising, payment limits, self-exclusion, and identity verification. The government bill is narrower in scope, aiming to fight illegal platforms and protect minors. It includes prison terms for people organizing clandestine betting and mechanisms to block websites.
3. On advertising, the government bill bans ads aimed at minors and ads that link gambling with economic or social success, but it still allows advertising and sports sponsorships. The version already approved by Deputies goes further, imposing broader restrictions on promotion, advertising, and agreements with clubs.
4. According to reports, companies in the sector are trying to influence the debate. Their main argument is that the stricter restrictions would fall on licensed operators while illegal platforms would remain outside control. That position aligns with voices in the libertarian bloc, which point to the high level of informality in the Argentine market.
5. The debate has also reached Buenos Aires province. Fuerza Patria deputies Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto are backing a comprehensive bill with tougher requirements, including the removal of welcome bonuses and loyalty programs, stronger tools against illegal sites, a 100% tax on advertising spend for mental health, and a levy on prizes to fund clubs and social institutions. According to the legislative calendar, a joint committee meeting took place on October 19, and the government bloc was seeking to bring the bill to the floor on October 20 for a first vote.

The Church has also pushed for the Senate to take up the stricter bill before it expires. In practical terms, Argentina’s next move will determine whether the market is governed mainly through operator-facing restrictions or through a narrower enforcement model aimed at the illegal side of the business.