Legality of offline casinos (Argentina)

Legality of offline casinos in Argentina

Shortly

Argentina does not have a single federal casino law: each of the 24 entities (23 provinces + Buenos Aires Autonomous City, CABA) decides whether to allow land-based casinos and on what terms. The basic rule of the country: gambling is prohibited unless explicitly authorized by the competent authority - the principle is enshrined in local acts and since December 2016 has been included in Art. 301 bis of the Criminal Code.

In practice, this means that offline casinos are legal where the provincial regulator has issued a permit/concession. The country operates dozens of casinos and slot halls by province - the largest park in South America, according to industry reviews.

Who permits and controls

Competency - provincial regulators (e.g. LOTBA in CABA; IPLyC in Buenos Aires, Misiones provinces; Lotería de Córdoba et al.). They issue licenses/concessions, establish rules for the operation of halls, control regimes and responsible play.

Coordination of practices - through the ALEA regulators association, but this is not a federal oversight body. (The outline is detailed in legal digests on Argentina.)

Where offline casinos are actually legal

Buenos Aires (CABA): operates Casino Buenos Aires (the so-called "floating" casino on ships in Puerto Madero), operating for many years on a license/concession basis; the fate of the extension is periodically discussed, which emphasizes the local jurisdiction and constitutional restrictions of the city.

Provinces: terrestrial casinos/slot halls are allowed in a number of jurisdictions (prov. Buenos Aires - networks of halls, Mar del Plata; Mendoza; Córdoba; Misiones; Rio Negro; Neuquen; Santa Fe; Entre Rios, etc.) - the permissive regime and taxes are established by each province separately.

Age and access

The national benchmark is 18 + (minors are not allowed), which is reflected in advertising and legal policies and in local measures to prevent minors from accessing games. Separate CABA initiatives strengthen control and clearance penalties <18.

How it is formalized legally

1. Concession/license from the provincial authority (dates, locations, list of games, requirements for equipment, internal control and audit).

2. Taxes and fees - at provincial rates (separately: taxes on gross income/turnover, canonical concession payments, etc.).

3. Responsible play and compliance - local RG, AML/CFT standards; "on-site" inspections by the regulator.

A legal framework of this kind ("allowed only if there is an act of the authorized body; otherwise - prohibition and criminal liability") is described in detail in international legal reviews on Argentina.

Case: Buenos Aires "floating" casino

Casino Buenos Aires (two vessels off Puerto Madero) is one of the country's most famous facilities. Its legal status is the subject of urban jurisdiction and agreements; the issue of license renewal periodically reached the courts/public discussions, which demonstrates the local specifics of regulation.

What is important to the player and operator

To players: check that the hall/casino is authorized by the local authority; observe the age threshold of 18 +; doubts - check on the regulator's website locally.

To operators/investors: exit strategy = multi-jurisdictional project: province selection, competition/concession, local tax rates, facility requirements (area, number of posts/slots), RG/AML standards, advertising and control. Base - the principle of "prohibido salvo autorización."

Offline casinos in Argentina are legal where expressly permitted by the provincial regulator. The country lives according to the rule "prohibited if not allowed," enshrined in the Criminal Code. Therefore, the legal status of each casino is a decision of a specific province/SAA, with its own licenses, taxes and control norms. In practice, the market is large and diverse (dozens of casinos across the country), but the legal starting point is always the same: does the site have a valid local permit.

Sources and references: international legal reviews on Argentina (ICLG, Lexology); industry guides to the land-based casino market; Casino Buenos Aires CABA status materials; publications on measures against juvenile access.