IPLyC: Illegal Online Gambling Makes Up 80% of Buenos Aires Province Activity
Gonzalo Atanasof told the provincial Gambling Committee that illicit platforms operate largely from abroad and permit minors.
Key Takeaways
- IPLyC reported that illegal online platforms represent 80% of online gambling activity in Buenos Aires province.
- Gonzalo Atanasof presented the findings to the Gambling Committee of the provincial Chamber of Deputies on 23 October 2026.
- IPLyC said illicit sites often allow minors and operate from foreign jurisdictions, complicating enforcement.
- Authorized operators must use biometric checks, sworn declarations and cross-references with RENAPER.
Illegal online gambling accounts for 80% of all online gambling activity in Argentina’s Buenos Aires province, the Buenos Aires Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos (IPLyC) reported to the provincial legislature on 23 October 2026. Gonzalo Atanasof, president of the IPLyC, presented the finding to the Committee on Gambling, Lotteries and the Prevention of Gambling Addiction of the Chamber of Deputies and urged lawmakers to grant regulatory bodies enhanced enforcement tools.
Committee briefing and participants
Atanasof spoke before the Gambling Committee in Room 30 of the Chamber of Deputies alongside IPLyC directors Carlos Gallo (gambling and operations), Sebastián Silvestre (legal affairs) and Laura Spinelli (systems). The session was presided over by Deputy Micaela Olivetto and attended by eleven provincial lawmakers including Diego Garciarena, Andrés De Leo and Fabián Luayza. Atanasof framed the issue as a law-enforcement and public-protection priority and asked the provincial legislature to provide specialised powers and instruments. The institute asked legislators to consider measures that would help detect and dismantle foreign-based operations; the IPLyC described many illegal operators as functioning from abroad.
Causes of the illicit-market growth
Atanasof attributed the surge in the underground market to a "perfect storm" combining four drivers: rapid digital expansion, widespread hyperconnectivity, the economic crisis and shifting consumer habits. He said those factors have enabled unregulated platforms to scale quickly and evade domestic supervision. The institute highlighted that these sites routinely allow minors to participate and do not fulfil tax obligations owed to the province.
Compliance required of authorised operators
Legal, state-sanctioned platforms face rigorous identity and age-verification obligations under provincial controls. Atanasof noted authorised operators must implement measures including biometric verification, sworn declarations and cross-referencing user data with the National Registry of Persons (RENAPER). The IPLyC contrasted these obligations with illegal sites that permit minors and operate outside tax and oversight frameworks.
"We are facing a complex crime, involving organisations that often operate from abroad and require specific tools to detect and dismantle them," Atanasof told the committee.
The IPLyC warned of broader economic repercussions: the institute cited negative impacts on employment and tax revenues across land-based gaming sectors as the digital shift and illicit market expand. At the session’s close, Atanasof expressed cautious optimism about legislative cooperation: "This meeting could be the start of a process to secure more tools and better results," he said.
Next steps for lawmakers
IPLyC asked the provincial legislature to exercise its authority and equip regulators with specialised enforcement capabilities. The institute recommended tools tailored to transnational criminal networks and cross-border digital infrastructure, and sought cooperation channels to address jurisdictional hurdles. For legislative context see provincial regulation discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is the illicit online gambling market in Buenos Aires province?
IPLyC reported that illegal online gambling accounts for 80% of all online gambling activity in Buenos Aires province. Gonzalo Atanasof presented this figure to the Gambling Committee on 23 October 2026.
Who presented the IPLyC findings to the provincial legislature?
Gonzalo Atanasof, president of the Buenos Aires Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos, presented the findings before the Committee on Gambling, Lotteries and the Prevention of Gambling Addiction of the Chamber of Deputies. The session included IPLyC directors Carlos Gallo, Sebastián Silvestre and Laura Spinelli and was presided over by Deputy Micaela Olivetto.
What enforcement tools did IPLyC request from lawmakers?
IPLyC asked the provincial legislature for specialised tools to detect and dismantle operators that function from abroad. The institute emphasised the need for capabilities to tackle transnational organised crime and cross-border digital infrastructure.
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About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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