Interactive

Argentina – Trouble ahead for online gaming in Córdoba

By James - 21 November 2022

Online gambling regulation could hit a potential roadblock in Córdoba over the capital’s refusal to allow online gambling within the city limits. 

The government passed rules that give online casinos and sports betting the green light in May. In September the province preselected eight companies to operate online gaming. Both Argentine and foreign companies were invited to take part in the tender while The Córdoba Lottery will oversee online gaming. Online gambling was supposed to be underway before the World Cup.

However city ordinance 11,684 rules that gambling is illegal in the city limits. As a result  the Municipality of Córdoba has emphasizes that municipal regulations prevent online gambling from going forward, although they did not give further details nor issued any statements on the matter when consulted by local press.  

“Nothing is changed in the city, because there is already an ordinance that prohibits gambling and it was extended in 2017 to also prohibit electronic games,” municipal sources told the Córdoba newspaper La Voz del Interior.

In addition, councillors had requested information on whether the Municipality of Córdoba had been in contact with the lottery regarding the issue

According to local councillor Juan Pablo Quinteros the municipality had, after several delays, formally presented a note reminding the Córdoba Lottery of the validity of the prohibition established by ordinance 11,684 which would ban online gambling within the city limits. This would be the first formal claim made to the lottery regarding the matter. 

“Although with a lot of delay, and at the request of our incessant claims that include presentations in the Deliberative Council, in the Judiciary and even in the municipality through notification by a public notary, it is striking that despite the notification made by the Municipality, the Córdoba-Lottery of the Province continues with the process of implementing online gaming as if nothing happened and in complete ignorance of municipal autonomy. For the first time the municipality has executed an action before the Lottery. Clearly late and as a reaction to our request, but it establishes a position that leaves no doubt,” he said

Under the licensing process Argentine and foreign companies may work together to operate online gambling.