Recently, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil issued Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, which outlaws fixed-odds betting in the country. Argentina’s new prohibited on-gambling bill was inspired by Brazil’s recent ban on fixed-odds betting under Provisional Measure No. 1,394/2026, which was issued by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on September 25.
The “Lula Law” was introduced by Buenos Aires Senator Federico Fagioli. Diputados Bonaerenses stated that it would repeal the existing framework of Chapter VIII of Provincial Law No. 15,079 (regulating online gambling) and change it into a ban on most kinds of online betting and gambling.
Proposal Would Prohibit Most Online Gambling Activities
The bill applies to online gambling and games like slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker, and all other games that involve the risk of losing money for the chance of winning money or another prize. The proposed structure would mean that there would only be lotteries, quinielas, and draws authorized.
Fagioli plans to ban online gambling throughout Buenos Aires Province, as opposed to other bills that want to improve regulation and not remove the market. The project would thus be a major change to the province’s existing licensing framework.
Senator Cites Challenges Posed by Digital Platforms
Fagioli said that the digital revolution has revolutionised access to gambling, as users can place bets from anywhere with an internet connection, using their mobile devices.
“The expansion of platforms has changed the traditional characteristics of games of chance; the possibility of betting from any device connected to the internet has eliminated many of the material, spatial and temporal barriers that historically separated people from physical gambling establishments,” the senator said.
He further cautioned against the need to review the existing regulatory measures in view of these developments. “The growth of these forms of gambling poses new challenges for the control and prevention tools available to the provincial government,” Fagioli continued.
Bill Introduces Restrictions on Deposits and Advertising
The proposed legislation outlines a number of actions that would be implemented if the ban is approved. New deposits, baccarat players deposits and Baccarat transfer of funds to be used for gambling would not be accepted by licensed operators. After the legislation becomes law, operators would also have to block new gaming beginnings.
The measure would also ban online gambling advertising, promotions, bonus and sponsorships inBuenos Aires Province. The bans would also apply to online advertising for betting that is direct or indirect in nature.
Operators Would Have to Return User Balances
The plan would ban and refund the entire amount in every gambler’s account. They also would be required to file individual reports with the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos, the provincial gambling authority, which would include outstanding prizes and pending bets and account balances.
The regulator would have to designate and block websites, applications, social media profiles and other content which provide or facilitate online gambling. These measures would create an enforcement system designed to ensure that online betting services are not resumed after the proposed ban.
Debate Continues Over the Future of Online Gambling
Fagioli’s proposal contrasts with an independent bill from lawmakers Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto that aims to tighten up the rules and preventive measures for the online gambling industry, but not ban it outright.
Tignanelli reportedly has said that he supports a ban on online gambling, but he stated that he believes that such a measure would need legislation at the national level. The proposal put forward by Olivetto thus has a regulatory, restriction, and prevention approach.
The rival programs reflect the division in Buenos Aires Province over whether online gambling should be allowed to continue or banned. If Fagioli’s bill is going to become law, it would have to go through the provincial legislative process before any of the proposed restrictions are put into practice.
