The Buenos Aires regulator presented its approach to platform blocking, investigations, training and protection of minors
Effective enforcement depends on regulators, prosecutors, investigators and technology providers sharing information and acting within their different legal powers.
Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires presented its experience at the first International Conference on Online Betting Platforms, organised by Universidad Austral and SICPA.
The event brought together regulators, judicial authorities and industry specialists to examine the regulatory, fiscal, criminal and social challenges created by unauthorised online betting.
Discussions focused on enforcement, platform detection, user protection and the exposure of children and young people to illegal gambling services.
Regulators compare enforcement approaches
LOTBA President Jesús Acevedo participated in a panel examining the role and perspective of local and international lottery and gambling authorities.
He outlined the regulator’s response to the expansion of illegal betting platforms and called for stronger inspection and control mechanisms.
The panel also included Ida López, President of the Association of Argentine State Lotteries; Cecilia Valdés, Executive President of the Chilean Association of Casinos and Gaming; and Maximiliano Ruíz, Secretary at the Buenos Aires City Public Prosecutor’s Office, who moderated the discussion.
The participants considered how different jurisdictions identify unauthorised operators and coordinate responses involving regulators, prosecutors, courts and technical investigators.
They also discussed the need to distinguish authorised websites from platforms operating without identity checks, age controls or responsible gambling safeguards.
LOTBA and FEJA explain enforcement structure
LOTBA Secretary General Eva Del Río Frontera moderated a panel dedicated to the Buenos Aires City Specialised Gambling Prosecutor’s Office.
Speakers included Ezequiel Domínguez, a director at LOTBA; Juan Rozas, head of the Specialised Gambling Prosecutor’s Office; and Rodrigo Branca, Director of the Judicial Investigations Corps.
The session examined the joint strategy used by LOTBA and FEJA to detect, investigate and disrupt illegal gambling.
LOTBA’s regulatory and monitoring work can lead to complaints concerning platforms or individuals suspected of offering gambling without authorisation. FEJA can then direct the criminal investigation and request measures from the appropriate court.
The Judicial Investigations Corps provides technical and investigative support. Court authorisation may be required for website blocking, searches, seizures and other enforcement measures.
The actions discussed during the event included blocking clandestine platforms, pursuing suspected offenders, delivering specialist training and using reparation agreements where legally appropriate.
Six websites blocked within 48 hours
The strategy has already produced a series of enforcement actions in Buenos Aires.
In June, FEJA secured court orders blocking six online casino and sports betting platforms within 48 hours. The cases followed complaints and an investigation conducted with LOTBA and the Judicial Investigations Corps.
Authorities said the websites operated without identity verification, age controls or user-protection measures.
The conduct under investigation falls within Article 301 bis of Argentina’s Criminal Code, which covers the unauthorised operation, administration or organisation of gambling. The offence can carry a prison sentence.
In another case, a Buenos Aires court ordered nationwide access restrictions against prediction market platform Polymarket following a complaint from LOTBA.
The decision also instructed Google and Apple to remove or restrict access to the application in Argentina. ALEA contributed confirmation that the platform lacked gambling authorisation in every Argentine jurisdiction.
These cases illustrate that LOTBA identifies and reports suspected illegal activity, while prosecutors investigate and courts decide whether blocking and other coercive measures should be imposed.
Minors remain central to prevention work
Mayra Gallucci and María Cecilia García, members of LOTBA’s Gambling Conduct Sub-management team, participated in a panel on the social impact of online betting.
The discussion examined how illegal platforms can reach children and young people without the identity and age-verification procedures required of authorised operators.
Participants called for coordinated prevention policies, public information and support for users experiencing gambling-related harm.
Buenos Aires authorities advise players to check whether an online gambling platform uses Argentina’s .bet.ar domain. This restricted domain is used to identify services authorised by the relevant provincial or city regulator.
The domain provides a practical first check, although users should also confirm the operator’s authorisation with the regulator responsible for their jurisdiction.
International cooperation supports enforcement
The conference was held at Universidad Austral in Buenos Aires and was organised with security and authentication technology company SICPA.
Its programme covered judicial responses, forensic technology, taxation, regulatory responsibilities and the social effects of online gambling.
LOTBA said the exchange of information with regulators and specialists from other countries could support the development of safer digital environments and more effective responses to unauthorised platforms.
The participation of ALEA and Chile’s casino association also gave the discussion a wider regional dimension, reflecting the cross-border nature of online gambling promotion, payments and digital access.
