BetNor officially launched its sports betting and online casino platform in La Rioja province last week. It’s the Argentine operator’s first provincial license – and currently their only licensed jurisdiction in the entire country.
AJALAR, the Administration of Games of Chance of La Rioja, granted the official operating licence. The announcement happened at AJALAR’s headquarters with company executives and provincial authorities present.
Santiago Bajuk serves as BetNor’s General Director. He deliberately chose La Rioja as the company’s starting point for what he calls a national and regional expansion strategy.
The province has been growing its list of approved operators lately. BetWarrior entered La Rioja’s market in mid-2025, then expanded operations to Chubut province. BetNor’s now joining this expanding roster of licensed platforms.
Why This Provincial License Opens Bigger Opportunities
BetNor sees La Rioja as its foundation for growth across Argentina and Latin America. “Each day more Argentines can play safely and legally,” Bajuk said during the launch announcement. He’s positioning this as the first move in a much larger plan.
The provincial license framework delivers specific advantages. BetNor can hire local workers under the license terms. Provincial regulators monitor all games offered on the platform – creating oversight that illegal sites don’t have.
Julio Brizuela, AJALAR’s Deputy Administrator, explained why the province prioritises licensed operators. “Fighting illegal gambling, which allows minors to play, does not pay taxes and has no controls, is a priority for us,” he said. “The best way to do this is with responsible companies that meet the requirements of the province to protect users.”
Those protections matter in practice. The regulatory framework aims to prevent fraud and keep players safe from unscrupulous operators who exploit gaps in enforcement.
What BetNor’s Operations Include Under the License
The license covers both sports betting and online casino offerings. AJALAR’s framework sets specific requirements for player protections and regular compliance checks.
BetNor operates within La Rioja’s legal and fiscal structures now. That means paying provincial taxes and following local regulations – unlike illegal gambling sites that avoid both.
Provincial regulators monitor the platform continuously. They’re checking that games stay fair and players get protected according to La Rioja’s standards.
The company stated these protections benefit everyone involved. Players get legitimate oversight. The province collects taxes. And BetNor establishes its reputation as a compliant operator.
How BetNor Plans to Build on This Launch
The company’s already planning infrastructure improvements. BetNor wants to strengthen its technical capabilities and integrate additional local sports betting options in the near future.
This launch represents step one of a broader strategy. BetNor’s targeting expansion across multiple Argentine provinces and into other Latin American markets.
The timing works well for both sides. La Rioja gains another tax-paying licensed operator while BetNor establishes itself in Argentina’s regulated digital entertainment market.
BetNor’s creating local employment opportunities through the launch. And they’re positioning for growth while meeting provincial legal requirements – which should help when they approach other jurisdictions.
The company hasn’t announced which provinces they’ll target next. But securing this first license gives them a working model for future applications.
