Online Betting Ban in Buenos Aires Could Push Players to Illegal Sites
Kaizen Gaming, which operates the Betano brand, has warned that proposals to ban online betting in Buenos Aires province could push players toward offshore and illegal sites. The company says it supports strong regulation but opposes measures that would make the regulated service impossible to operate.
Gabriel Buenos, senior regulatory affairs manager at Kaizen Gaming, told NEXT.io that Betano, which is licensed in the province, supports strong regulation but opposes measures that push players offshore. Buenos said, "Our concern is with any measure that makes the regulated service unable to work. That pushes players to illegal sites."
The comments came as the Buenos Aires provincial legislature debates two different proposals. Provincial senator Federico Fagioli submitted a bill called the "Lula Law" last month, inspired by Brazil's new betting ban. The bill would completely prohibit online sports betting and casino games in the province. The proposal comes just five years after the first regulated operators began operating.
Separately, legislators Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto are proposing stricter controls on advertising and player verification. This proposal does not include shutting down the regulated market. The measures under discussion include biometric identity checks, mandatory breaks during sessions, and additional contributions from operators to gambling addiction prevention efforts.
Buenos said Betano is closely following both the ban proposal and the legislative debate. He described the company's position in Argentina as "operating under a license, complying with the legal framework and contributing to a transparent market." In his view, the Buenos Aires debate should take into account the size of the illegal betting market. Some estimates suggest that 80% of online betting in Argentina takes place on offshore sites.
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