Comparison with neighbors (Argentina vs. Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia)

Why compare

Argentina is a "mosaic" market: licenses and rules set the provinces and CABA, but there is no single federal regime for online. This contrasts sharply with neighbors, where either there is a centralized reform (Brazil, Paraguay), or there is a monopoly/ban (Uruguay, Bolivia), or a comprehensive law (Chile) at the finish line.

Short Total (TL; DR)

Argentina: there is legal online, but by province/SAVA; there are no uniform federal rules.

Brazil: Base for fixed rates adopted (Law 14. 790/2023), in 2024-2025 the Ministry of Finance (SPA) issues regulations - the launch of the regulated market is underway.

Chile: in 2025, a bill on online games was approved (with VAT 19% and RG standards); in parallel, the Supreme Court ordered providers to block illegal sites.

Uruguay: online casinos are prohibited from private operators, sports betting - through the state monopoly Supermatch; authorities regularly remind of the ban and fines.

Paraguay: Law No. 7348/2025 was adopted in 2025, which removes the monopoly and opens the way for private operators (online and offline) according to a new framework.

Bolivia: Act No. 060 (2010) is in force - only what is expressly permitted is permitted; online betting/casinos are not legalised, with regulator AJ publicly warning there is no legal online betting in the country.

Detailed by country

Argentina

The model is decentralized: regulation at the level of 23 provinces + CABA, hence the differences in licenses, rates and lists of allowed verticals. Nationally, there is no "general" online license. For the player, a quick check of legality is the domains of the operators. bet. ar and explicit indication of local regulator (LOTBA for CABA, provincial lottery, etc.).

Trend 2025-2027: unification of minimum standards (RG/advertising/self-exclusion) is discussed without abolishing provincial powers.

Brazil

In 2023, Law 14 was adopted. 790 for fixed-odds rates; in 2024, Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) was created under the Ministry of Finance, which issues by-laws to launch the market in 2025 (licensing, AML/KYC, responsible play, etc.). Full land casinos remain under the historical prohibition of Decree Law 9. 215/1946 (outside of separate bills), but online betting is legalized and regulated.

What it means: Market centralized, high compliance requirements; in the product - bets (sports/e-sports/virtual sports), exchange formats and fantasy according to the norms of ordinances.

Chile

Until 2025, the online market was considered a "gray zone"; the state strengthened the blocking of illegal immigrants and went to the law. In the summer of 2025, the government approved a bill to regulate online games (including 19% VAT, RG obligations, blocking and competition with existing forms - lotteries, hippodromes, casinos). At the same time, the Supreme Court ordered Internet providers to block illegal platforms.

Bottom line: a national framework is being formed under the supervision of the SCJ/Ministry of Finance; there is no "provincial mosaic," as in Argentina.

Uruguay

The online market is closed to private casino operators: only channels directly authorized by the state are allowed. Supermatch (nat. La Banca Lottery) is the only legal online bookmaker. The online casino project (through the General Directorate of Casinos) hung in the lower house and was not accepted; authorities regularly publish warnings and strengthen the ban on unauthorized online.

Paraguay

In 2024-2025, the country carried out a structural reform: law No. 7348/2025 was signed, which eliminates the previous monopoly and introduces a modern framework for private operators (online/offline) with licensing from CONAJZAR and increased transparency of tenders. This is a radical game changer for the market and investors.

Bolivia

Law No. 060 (2010) rules: any gambling product that is not directly permitted by law and the AJ regulator is considered illegal. In 2025, the regulator again publicly stated: "there are no legal online rates in Bolivia"; raids and fines against illegal immigrants are underway. There is talk of updating the framework, but de facto online casinos/bets are not legalized.

What it means for Argentina

1. Competitive window. Against the background of the launch of Brazil and the reform of Paraguay, the provincial model of Argentina remains competitive for local operators and. bet. ar-brands: legally online is already working, and improvements higher by RG's "minimum standards" can increase trust without breaking the structure.

2. Cross-border and interlocks. Chile's experience with judicial blocking and Uruguayan tough policies against illegal immigrants suggest that synchronizing Argentine regulators around the self-exclusion/blocking registry will strengthen the white segment.

3. Investors. Brazil = large but centralized and highly regulated market; Paraguay = "new entry" after 7348/2025; Argentina = mature demand, but requires local strategies by province and work with regulatory fragmentation.

Quick reference (traffic light format)

Green (online): Argentina (provincial-CABA), Brazil (rates - from 2025 to SPA/14. 790).

Yellow (reform at the finish/model change): Chile (bill approved + blocking), Paraguay (law 7348/2025 launched).

Red (strict ban/monopoly): Uruguay (Supermatch only, private online casinos - no), Bolivia (no legal online betting/casinos).

Argentina already has a working online market - albeit a "mosaic" one - while Brazil centralizes the betting segment, Chile brings the law and strengthens locks, Paraguay opens the door to private traders after the monopoly is lifted, and Uruguay and Bolivia keep tight restrictions on online casinos/bets. For players, the key benchmark in Argentina is .bet. ar + indication of local regulator; for business - jurisdictional management and readiness for the convergence of RG and enforcement standards along the South American perimeter.

Relevance of sources: checked on October 12, 2025 (Europe/Kyiv).