Legislation
Argentina – Party in Córdoba province wants online gambling licenses revoked
By James - 26 March 2024
Right wing conservative party Encuentro Vecinal Córdoba has announced that it will propose two bills next month that will limit the “actions of online gambling that are exploited” in the province.
In a statement, the party clarified that they are looking to prohibit the granting of new online gambling licenses, prohibit the creation of new modalities of gambling and create a commission of experts to evaluate the termination of existing contracts regulated by Law 10.793.
They also made it clear that they will demand the consideration of the bill presented by coalition Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change). In February lawmakers from the province of Córdoba belonging to the coalition presented a bill proposing the prohibition of online gambling advertising and sponsorships in the province. The bill if approved would also implement a biometric data registry to prevent minors from accessing online gambling. Provincial legislator Alejandra Ferrero warned that the participation of minors “has been increasing on virtual gaming platforms” and that, in response, the project seeks to incorporate a biometric data registry.
Encuentro Vecinal Córdoba argued that “the first four licenses granted by the province of Córdoba, shortly after being issued, allow us to clearly perceive the evils derived from the expansion of this form of gambling.”
According to the party in the months of January and February 2024, the provincial government “only received $22,900,000 in royalties, while the turnover of the concessionaires was $5,862,475,908.00.”
That is to say, “only $3.7 out of every $10,000 gambled made its way to the public coffers. A business, at least for now, that is ruinous,” they concluded.
“Encuentro Vecinal believes that the issuance of new licenses and the creation of new games of chance should be prohibited. We propose a special session for April 4th to discuss the project to study the rescission of existing contracts,” said legislator Rodrigo Agrelo.
Online betting is only permitted from devices located in the province of Córdoba and online gambling is distributed between four companies: Betsson, PlayCet, B-Play and Jugadón. Licenses are valid for 15 years and may not be renewed.
Betsson partnered up with Argentine casino operator Casino de Victoria. Locally based slot operator CET (Concesionaria de Entretenimiento y Turismo) operates jointly with the Paraguayan sports betting operator Daruma Sam. Buenos Aires-based slot operator Boldt partnered with SG Digital (B-Play), while online casino brand Jugadón is operated by a group that operates arcades, racetracks and slot machines in the province of San Luis.
