Is Poker Legal in Argentina? 2026 Province-by-Province Guide

Launch Year

2023

Buenos Aires Province launched BAPRO Online in 2023, making it the first regulated provincial online gambling platform in Argentina. The pilot program focuses on Buenos Aires Province residents and offers online casino games under IPL supervision.

Other Provinces

Exploring Licensing

Córdoba and Mendoza have publicly signaled interest in developing online gambling frameworks modeled on Buenos Aires Province's approach. However, neither had launched a regulated platform as of mid-2026.

Operator-Level Tax

15–30% Rate

Argentine provinces levy 15–30% tax on gambling revenue at the operator level. Licensed casinos pay this tax on their gross gaming revenue — it is built into the casino's operating cost, not a direct withholding from player winnings.

Recreational Players

Rarely Declared

Recreational players in Argentina rarely declare casino winnings as personal income. There is no unified national framework requiring players to report gambling wins to AFIP (Argentina's federal tax authority) for casual play.

Professional Players

Ganancias Tax

Players generating regular significant income from poker may be subject to Impuesto a las Ganancias (income tax) at rates up to 35%. Professional poker income would be treated as self-employment income. Consult an Argentine contador (accountant) if this applies.

Is online poker legal in Argentina?

Online poker in Argentina exists in a legal gray zone at the federal level — there is no national online gambling law that either explicitly legalizes or criminalizes online poker for players. At the provincial level, Buenos Aires Province launched BAPRO Online in 2023 as a regulated platform, making it the first province to offer licensed online casino games. Other provinces are exploring similar frameworks. International operators serving Argentine players do so without a license, and there is no enforcement history against individual players.

How does province-by-province regulation work in Argentina?

Argentina's 1853 constitution assigns gambling regulation to the provinces, not the federal government. This means each of Argentina's 23 provinces plus the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) has its own gambling regulator, its own licensing framework, and its own casino network. A casino licensed in Buenos Aires Province is not automatically authorized in Córdoba. Online gambling adds further complexity — provinces are independently developing online frameworks, creating a patchwork of rules rather than a unified national market.

Are there licensed online poker sites in Argentina?

As of 2026, no international online poker operator holds a comprehensive multi-province online poker license in Argentina. BAPRO Online, operated by the Buenos Aires Province lottery, is the first regulated online gambling platform but is focused primarily on the Buenos Aires provincial market. International operators like PokerStars and 888poker serve Argentine players without a local license — they operate in a gray zone where no enforcement has been directed at players.

How are poker winnings taxed in Argentina?

Argentina applies a 15-30% tax on gambling winnings at the operator level, meaning casinos and regulated operators pay the tax rather than individual players typically filing personal gambling tax returns. Recreational players rarely declare gambling winnings as income. There is no unified national gambling tax framework — provincial tax rules apply. For large winnings, particularly in formal casino settings, tax withholding at source may occur. Professional poker players generating regular income should consult an Argentine tax professional regarding ganancias (income tax) obligations.

What are the best live poker rooms in Argentina?

The top live poker destinations in Argentina include: Casino de Buenos Aires (Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires City) — the flagship national poker room with regular cash games; Casino Flotante de Buenos Aires — the iconic floating casino on the Río de la Plata waterfront; Casino Central de Mar del Plata — the major summer destination casino with tournament series during the resort season; and Casino Mendoza in western Argentina. Buenos Aires City and Province collectively have the highest concentration of live poker tables in the country.

Can I use international poker sites in Argentina?

Yes — Argentine players access international poker sites including PokerStars, partypoker, and 888poker without enforcement risk. These operators serve Argentine players in a gray zone: no federal law prohibits player access, and no province has prosecuted individual players for using international unlicensed sites. Payment processing can occasionally face friction with some bank restrictions, but workarounds via e-wallets and cryptocurrency are widely used. This gray zone status could change if provinces accelerate their own online licensing frameworks.

Is Argentina moving toward federal online gambling regulation?

Progress toward federal online gambling regulation in Argentina has been slow and fragmented. The constitutional structure assigning gambling authority to provinces makes a federal online gambling law legally complex. The more likely path is a voluntary inter-provincial coordination agreement, similar to shared liquidity pools in European markets. Buenos Aires Province's BAPRO Online launch in 2023 signals the start of provincial online markets. Córdoba and Mendoza have signaled interest in online licensing. Full federal harmonization, however, is not expected in the immediate term.