How casinos are regulated in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico

Argentina: provinces - "mini-regulators"

Who regulates. There is no single national law on online casinos: each of the 23 provinces and the city of Buenos Aires (CABA) license differently. The basic principle is "prohibited unless authorized by the competent authority."

• Buenos Aires Province (PBA). The legal foundation is Law 15. 079 and Decree 181/2019, which opened online casinos/betting. Regulator - Provincial Lottery; licenses and lists of operators are posted on its portal. Allowed sites have a domain. bet. ar.
• City of Buenos Aires (CABA). The LOTBA regulator maintains its own register and emphasizes the requirements for KYC (up to identity verification according to RENAPER) and the mandatory placement of license markings; for legal sites, a domain is also used. bet. ar.

What it means for the operator. To release "throughout Argentina," several local permits are needed (PBA, CABA, Cordoba, Mendoza, Santa Fe, etc.), and the set of games, license terms and fiscal model differ (for example, PBA/Cordoba - up to 15 years, CABA - 5 + 5).

What it means for the player. Make sure that the site: (a) is licensed by the local regulator (LOTBA/Provincial Lottery), (b) uses a domain. bet. ar is the national "beacon" of legality.

Brazil: federal legalization of online and tax increases

New armature. In December 2023, Law 14 was adopted. 790/2023, which together with law 13. 756/2018 forms a mode for fixed bets and online games (iGaming). At the same time, land casinos formally remain banned by the old decree-law 9. 215/1946 (a separate bill on resort casinos is being discussed, but not yet adopted).

Supervision and enforcement. A federal department has been created (Secretary of Prizes & Betting, SPA), which issues regulatory ordinances for advertising and admission; authorities began blocking "irregular" sites and media channels.

Finance. In 2025, the government officially published a measure to raise the tax for operators to 18% GGR, and Congress is discussing further increases; the topic remains politically "alive."

Launch practices. Since 2025, the online gaming and betting market has been considered launched: operators require a local presence, compliance with RG/KYC/AML and compliance with strict promo rules (prohibition of targeting vulnerable groups, etc.).

What it means for the operator. Plan the economy at 18% GGR + fees/penalties and local compliance costs (including affiliate and advertising key control). Terrestrial casinos are still out of federal legalization, you can count primarily on the online channel.

Mexico: 'Old law, new bans' and promised reform

Base. The industry still relies on Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos (1947) and its Regulations; the operator needs a permiso from the Secretariat for Internal Policy (SEGOB).

Tightening 2023. November Decree 16. 11. 2023 the government banned the issuance of new permits for slot machines and tightened a number of procedures. The current permits remain until the expiration date, but do not plan to renew the "slots."

Politics 2025. The administration has publicly announced its intention to update the 1947 law for the digital age: separate norms for online, RG/advertising and license structure are expected. The project is in the works at the level of the executive branch and congress.

What it means for the operator. Offline segment - under a stricter line of rules and without expanding the slot fleet; online settings depend on the upcoming reform. So far, the strategy is to work strictly within the perimeter of existing permiso and design processes in advance to meet the expected requirements for RG/KYC/AML and advertising.

Comparison on one page

Practical conclusions

Argentina: Think of the portfolio of provinces - PBA and CABA as "anchors," then Córdoba/Mendoza/Santa Fe. For UX and marketing, use. bet. ar as a trust token for users.

Brazil: an "online first" country model with increasing fiscal burden and active enforcement; Prepare an advertising matrix and affiliates for SPA ordinances.

Mexico: "no surprises" strategy: strictly within the framework of the SEGOB permiso, no new slots, at the same time keep the adaptation plan for the expected federal reform.

Three countries - three architectures. Argentina is developing a mosaic but already mature market through provincial regulators; Brazil is rapidly building a single federal field for online and raising taxes; Mexico has tightened the old regime and is preparing for full-scale reform. There is only one universal tip: design a product and compliance under the player's local jurisdiction, budgeting for responsible advertising, KYC/AML and content certification - this is what separates the "licensed" from the "rest" today.