Axel Kicillof, Governor of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, stated in mid-September that he would not allow young people to be “left at the mercy of betting apps.” He made these remarks during the closing speech of a political event where he outlined numerous criticisms of President Javier Milei’s administration. Just twelve days earlier, his provincial government had announced a 2% withholding tax on online slot machine winnings. This measure was set forth in Resolution No. 1149/2026 of the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos—signed by its president, Gonzalo Atanasof—and published in the Official Gazette on September 8, 2026.
Kicillof Raises the Issue of Gambling Again at Political Plenary
Kicillof delivered these remarks at the closing ceremony of the federal plenary session of the “Movement for the Right to the Future” (Movimiento Derecho al Futuro, or MDF), a political movement in which he is a key leader. A “plenary session” in this context refers to a large-scale meeting where a political organization gathers delegations from various regions to hold discussions in working groups. The event took place at the Villa Domínico campus of the National Technological University (UTN) in Avellaneda, drawing delegations from more than ten provinces.
In his speech, Kicillof reviewed various areas of governance—ranging from industry to public health—and highlighted policies he deemed ill-advised, attributing them to the Milei administration. When addressing the topic of young people, he included online gambling in his concerns: “I will never let our children lose their futures, be left at the mercy of betting apps, or fall into precarious employment with no labor rights protections.”
Legal online gambling operations in Buenos Aires Province function under concessions granted by the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos. The websites of the seven authorized companies all end with the “bet.ar” domain suffix, a designation specifically created to distinguish legal gambling operations from unauthorized platforms. While announcing the 2% withholding tax, provincial government minister Carlos Bianco noted that over 800 complaints regarding unauthorized platforms had previously been received. According to the minister, a recent enforcement action alone resulted in the blocking of 537 illegal gambling websites. The province has also collaborated with Meta and the national lottery association, ALEA, to file complaints against more than 100 social media influencers who were promoting illegal sites.
Twelve days ago, the provincial government announced the imposition of a 2% withholding tax on winnings.
The Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos (IPLyC), the body responsible for regulating and managing gambling operations in Buenos Aires Province, signed Resolution No. 1149/2026. Carlos Bianco, the provincial minister responsible for political coordination within the provincial administration, announced the news on Monday, September 7. According to the document, the regulation imposes a 2% withholding tax on winnings from “instant-result games”—specifically, virtual slot machines where the outcome is known immediately. A withholding tax is a portion of the winnings deducted by the operator before payment is made to the player, with the funds subsequently remitted to the public treasury.
The document indicates that the province has already “implemented” this withholding tax. The measure applies to the seven licensed operators—companies authorized to legally conduct online gambling in the province. These operators are required to submit weekly sworn declarations to verify the withholding tax and must fulfill their legal obligation to report the relevant information to the government. The measure is based on Law No. 15079, passed in late 2018; Article 137 of that law stipulates a levy rate of between 1% and 3%. A 2% withholding tax could generate up to $26.2 million in monthly revenue.
Carlos Bianco, a minister in the Buenos Aires provincial government, stated at a press conference that he estimates the new monthly revenue will range between 35 billion and 40 billion Argentine pesos (approximately $22.9 million to $26.2 million). These funds will be allocated to the “Progress and Social Inclusion Fund” (FOPIS) to finance healthcare, education, and social development projects, as well as initiatives for the prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.
The governor has previously addressed the issue of online gambling apps—platforms for which his administration grants operating licenses—and Bianco estimates that this measure will generate additional government revenue. The minister noted that the funds would be used to strengthen policies addressing gambling addiction, particularly those targeting young people. This withholding tax is in addition to two existing levies: a 15% tax on gross gaming revenue (total wagers minus payouts) and a 10% royalty fee calculated on the same basis. Royalty fees are periodic payments made by concessionaires to the state for the right to operate. While both of these existing charges are levied on the operator’s revenue, the new 2% tax is deducted directly from players’ winnings.