Gonzalo Atanasof, Head of the Buenos Aires Province Lottery and Casino Institute, defended a proposed online gambling law before a provincial Chamber of Deputies committee.
According to him, 80% of online betting in the province operates illegally. He said the remaining 20% is served by seven licensed operators, bet365, Betano, Betsson, BetWarrior, bplay, Sport.bet.ar and Stake, which share 7 million active accounts.
Atanasof said: “We do not have the ability to control that 80% of gambling, or even to see what is happening. We only do it through cyber patrols and the complaints we register.”
He estimated the value of illegal gambling in Argentina to be around $3.6bn.
The proposal was introduced by two deputies, including committee chair Micaela Olivetto and Facundo Tignanelli. Its 64 articles require the institute’s prior authorization for all advertising and ban welcome and reload bonuses.
They also make operators pay the province 100% of their advertising and promotional spending to fund mental health and gambling addiction programs. A separate monthly contribution of 3% of prizes would finance neighborhood clubs and athlete scholarships.
The 3% of prizes would have totaled ARS532m ($348,789) between January and September, according to the institute.
Carlos Gallo, Provincial Director of Games and Operations, said: “Keep in mind that this represents 76% of the gross profit that online gambling generates, so we understand it will affect the operation of betting.”
Diego Garciarena, Leader of the UCR + Cambio Federal bloc, said at the committee’s first discussion of the bill last week that his caucus agrees with its spirit but is preparing changes to advertising restrictions, the use of revenue and the proposed specialized prosecutor’s office.
Committee advisers will meet again on Thursday. Legislative sources told Diputados Bonaerenses that the bill’s sponsors aim to bring it to the floor in a double session at the end of October.
Atanasof offered the institute’s input so the Legislature can pass a law before year-end.
According to Atanasof, land-based gambling accounts for 97% of gambling revenue in Buenos Aires Province, while online gambling represents the remaining 3%
