Kaizen Gaming has warned that proposals to ban online gambling in Argentina’s Buenos Aires province risk driving more players offshore and onto illegal sites.
Speaking to NEXT.io, Gabriel Buenos, regulatory affairs senior manager at Kaizen Gaming, whose Betano brand holds a licence in the province, said the operator supports strong regulations, but warned against measures that would lead to more players going offshore.
“Our concern is with any measure that makes the regulated offering unviable, because that would push players towards illegal sites,” Buenos said.
“We support measures that strengthen player protection. We will continue to engage constructively with legislators and regulators, and we believe that strengthening enforcement against illegal operators should be part of any package of regulatory measures.”
His comments come as lawmakers in Buenos Aires province consider two competing proposals to tighten restrictions on online gambling, including one that would completely ban it.
Buenos Aires lawmakers consider outright ban
Last month, provincial senator Federico Fagioli introduced legislation, dubbed the “Lula Law” after Brazil’s recent betting ban, that would similarly outlaw online sports betting and casino gambling across Buenos Aires province, just five years after the first regulated operators went live.
At the same time, provincial lawmakers Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto have proposed tighter controls on advertising and player verification, but would not dismantle the regulated market.
Among the measures being debated are biometric identity checks, compulsory breaks in sessions, and requiring operators to make additional contributions to gambling harm prevention.
Buenos said Betano was closely monitoring both the proposed ban and the legislative debate.
“Our commitment in Argentina is to operate under a licence, within the legal framework, and contribute to a transparent market,” he said. “This is a long-term position that does not depend on any particular initiative.”
Illegal gambling accounts for estimated 80% of the market
Buenos said that any debate in Buenos Aires should take into account the scale of the illegal gambling market. Some estimates suggested 80% of online gambling in Argentina takes place on offshore sites.
“Many players don’t know if a site is licensed or not. Others choose offshore sites for better odds, which they can offer because they don’t pay taxes or employ local teams for player protection and compliance.”
“But when a player chooses an offshore site, they lose all these protections. There are no identity checks, limits, self-exclusion options or complaint mechanisms if something goes wrong.”
He said the company supports strict rules, including advertising restrictions and stronger safeguards for minors, but questioned whether every proposed measure would deliver meaningful improvements.
“The question is whether a measure raises protection standards or simply makes licensed operators less visible than illegal ones,” he said.
“Any new measure should be assessed on whether it brings players closer to a protected environment or pushes them further away.”
Regulator also raises concerns over advertising restrictions
Buenos Aires’ gambling regulator has also warned about the potential consequences of restricting advertising by licensed operators.
In an interview with local media, Gonzalo Atanasof, president of the Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos, called for urgent action to limit gambling advertising, particularly where it reaches young people.
However, he also warned that an outright advertising ban could benefit illegal operators.
“If you completely ban licensed operators from advertising, you don’t eliminate all advertising. You only eliminate advertising by licensed operators, because those are the ones the state controls,” he said.
The regulator said there had already been more than 80 judicial complaints made by provincial authorities against people promoting unlicensed gambling websites.
Buenos agreed that stronger enforcement was needed, arguing that payment providers and those promoting illegal operators should also face scrutiny.
“It is essential that players can tell the difference between licensed and unlicensed sites, and that operators, regulators and platforms work together to provide users with clear information,” he said.
He added that Betano would continue engaging with policymakers as the province considers the future of its regulated market.