Buenos Aires Bill Would Force Breaks in Online Betting

A proposed law in Buenos Aires Province would place hard limits on how long licensed customers can gamble online. Platforms could also be required to interrupt play when user activity shows signs of lost control.

Provincial Deputy Mayra Mendoza has proposed limiting each gaming session to 60 minutes. After that, the platform would automatically end the session and prevent another login for at least one hour.

Session Controls Move into the Rulebook

Additionally, players would not be allowed to make more than three logins within a period of 24 hours. Exceeding the number would lead to the player being blocked until the next day, along with a responsible gambling warning.

This proposal differs from the typical reminder system in that it would require licensed websites to display the duration of the game and the total amount staked during play. The platform would also have to issue alerts that interrupt activity when a player’s behavior may indicate a loss of control.

Facial Checks Would Cover Money Movements

The bill would mandate real-time facial verification at various stages throughout the customer experience process. Facial verification would be necessary during login, deposits, withdrawals, or betting over an amount to be set out in regulation.

Operators that fail to comply could face financial penalties, a temporary license suspension, or the permanent revocation of their authorization. The executive branch would designate the enforcement authority, which could establish an implementation schedule of up to 90 days.

The legislation would be applicable to the seven operators identified as authorized in the proposal: Bet365, Betano, Stake, Betsson, BetWarrior, Bplay, and Sports.bet.

Biometrics Are Already Part of the Market

Buenos Aires introduced biometric controls through IPLyC Resolution 1504/2025, published in December 2025. The measure requires licensed platforms to use facial recognition and proof-of-life technology for identity verification, with operators given 60 days to implement the system after receiving the technical rules.

The bill proposed by Mendoza would give these measures a broader legal context, making their application more extensive and imposing strict session restrictions and punishments for failure to comply with the requirements.

Mendoza serves in the provincial Chamber of Deputies for the 2025-2029 term, representing the Third Electoral Section.

Committee Review Will Test the Proposal

The proposal is expected to be reviewed by the Chamber of Deputies’ Committee on Gambling, Lottery and Problem Gambling Prevention. Moreover, it involves the establishment of a working group consisting of parliamentarians, experts, and civil society organizations.

The market test will be whether fixed breaks reduce risky play without sending customers to illegal sites that ignore the limits. Enforcement will therefore require two parallel efforts: close supervision of licensed operators and faster action against unlicensed platforms. Otherwise, regulated businesses would absorb the cost of the reform while unlicensed sites continue offering fewer restrictions.