New online gambling licenses granted in Buenos Aires
The granting of online gambling licenses continues in the province of Buenos Aires. Since the beginning of the process by which the Institute of Lotteries and Casinos of the province requested interested operators to complete the registration and application procedures, important international operators have competed for the acquisition of one of the prized licenses. Betsson, Playtech or William Hill would have already got theirs.
The Lottery and Casinos Institute of the province of Buenos Aires has granted seven licenses for the exploitation of online gambling and betting. Companies such as Betsson, William Hill or bet365 have achieved one of the prized licenses. ©Mampu/Pixabay
Legislation stalled since 2019
The regularization process of online gambling in the province of Buenos Aires he was stuck since 2019, when the October elections took a turn to the left with the election of Axel Kicillof and the process initiated by the former governor María Eugenia Vidal was paralyzed.
Despite being the third economy of Latin America , behind Brazil and Mexico, the online gambling legislation in Argentina is far behind, being in this aspect Colombia the country that is ahead of the rest.
As a peculiarity of the licensing process, it should be noted that Argentine companies that would like to apply for one must have the joint participation of a foreign partner in other words, the Buenos Aires online market is opening up to the exploitation of joint ventures, with important international operators providing the necessary experience in the online gambling and betting industry.
Betsson, one of the big beneficiaries
The Spanish company Codere he had bet heavily for the achievement of one of the seven licenses granted, given his important presence in the city of Buenos Aires with numerous bingo rooms. However, the partnership with Iberargen S.A. does not seem to have been sufficient to obtain a license.
Who have reasons to celebrate it's Betsson's Swedes. Next to the Victoria Casino, the well-known bookmaker and online casino announced that they had been one of the recipients of the seven disputed licenses. In full expansion in Latam , Betsson is now landing in Argentina ready to contribute their experience and know-how , as according to Jesper Svensson , Group CEO:
“Our strategy for Latam is to find local partners who can provide the necessary knowledge and have solid experience in the sector, and we are very pleased to have Casino de Victoria as our partners in Argentina for this joint venture.”
After the acquisition of a significant part of Suaposta in Brazil , Betsson would now be in a position to initiate operations of betting, casino and live casino in Buenos Aires .
These are the operators who have obtained a license
According to the resolution 795/2020 , published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Buenos Aires on December 31, 2020, this is the list of companies according to the score obtained that have obtained a license to operate:
- Argenbingo S.A. - Will Hill Limited S.A.
- Hillside Plc ( bet365 ) - Pasteko S.A.
- Hotel Casino Tandil S.A. - Dynamo Tyche S.A. - Playtech Software Limited
- Cassava Enterprises ( 888 Holdings ) - Boldt S.A.
- Atlántica de Juegos S.A. - Stars Interactive Limited ( PokerStars )
- Binbaires S.A. - Intralot International Limited
- Casino de Victoria S.A. - Betsson Malta Holding
Important online operators such as Luckia, Codere or Betway are left out .
According to the resolution of the Institute of Lotteries and Casinos operators will have to contribute $65,000,000 (more than $600,000) as a one-time fixed fee, of which $26,000,000 must be paid at the time the license grant is officially formalized. Online gambling in Buenos Aires is now a reality.
