The long-delayed licensing process for the Puerto Madero floating casinos has reignited tensions between Buenos Aires authorities and the national government, with both sides seeking control over the concession.
The Buenos Aires City government has made clear it intends to lead the bidding process for the Puerto Madero floating casino concession, pushing back against reported attempts by private gaming interests to have the national government take over the process through a presidential decree.
The concession, originally held by Casinos de Buenos Aires, a company operated by Cirsa and local partners, expired formally in 2019 and has since operated under court injunctions.
In March 2025, the Supreme Court struck down those injunctions, ruling the contract extension, which dated back to the administration of Carlos Menem and was modified under Mauricio Macri in 2016, was no longer sustainable. That ruling left the path open for a new bidding process, expected to run until at least 2031.
Industry sources confirmed to local media that gaming operators including Ricardo Benedicto, Federico de Achával and Codere's Manuel Lao held meetings in the past month with presidential advisor Santiago Caputo and officials aligned with Karina Milei and Lule Menem, seeking to shift jurisdiction over the concession to the national level.
City officials were quick to respond. A Buenos Aires Government lawyer said: “The discussions are intense; interest from multiple gaming operators has existed and continues to exist, and the argument is straightforward: one decree can override another, but in this multi-million-dollar case, it is not so simple,” noting any such move would likely reach the Supreme Court and challenge provincial autonomy.
He added: “First, it should be said that we are aware of the alleged negotiations between these individuals and the Milei government, as they look ahead to 2027, when the tender is expected to take place. But they should understand that, in an election year, the last thing Jorge Macri will support is losing that revenue stream for the City.
“Buenos Aires residents would see it as a concession that could undermine PRO’s chances of retaining control of the city. And Jorge is seeking re-election.”
Separately, Buenos Aires authorities are also seeking to avoid a potential labour dispute in Puerto Madero. The situation of casino workers remains fragile, involving voluntary redundancies, role restructuring and the presence of four unions, including gaming, hospitality, trucking and maritime, all on alert over the uncertainty.
According to a city government source, officials have already engaged with union representatives following reports of discussions between concessionaires and figures linked to La Libertad Avanza. With the concession’s legal standing weakened, the outcome of a new tender, potentially extending to 2031, is expected to determine the future of a significant portion of the workforce.
Although gambling is generally restricted in Buenos Aires City, the Puerto Madero floating casinos operate on the Río de la Plata, a federal waterway, allowing them to fall under national jurisdiction rather than city regulation
