In a significant legal turn, Argentina’s Supreme Court has revoked a key ruling that had previously allowed the continued operation of the famed casino boats in Buenos Aires. The decision, issued unanimously by the Court, strikes down an earlier injunction that extended the operating license of Casinos de Buenos Aires S.A. beyond its original expiration date in 2019.
Despite the Court’s decision, a separate and still-active injunction issued in 2021 currently permits the boats to continue functioning—keeping the legal status of these floating casinos in a state of uncertainty.
The casino boats, docked in Puerto Madero and known as "Estrella de la Fortuna" and "Princess," have long been a fixture of the city’s entertainment scene. Launched in 1999 as a creative workaround to anti-gambling laws that prohibit land-based casinos in the capital, the vessels operated under federal maritime jurisdiction, effectively bypassing local restrictions. The model mirrored that of riverboat casinos in the United States, especially in states like Louisiana and Illinois, where floating casinos were initially used to sidestep regulatory hurdles.
The Court’s recent ruling emphasized that judicial measures should not be used to extend expired licenses or override administrative decisions. The judgment signals a shift towards stricter enforcement of Argentina’s gambling laws and a call for greater regulatory compliance in a sector that has often operated in legal gray areas.
The case has sparked widespread attention due to the casino boats’ iconic status and the millions in annual revenue they generate. Casinos de Buenos Aires S.A., the operating company, has not yet publicly commented on the Court’s decision, while government regulators are now under pressure to clarify the future of the boats under the pending injunction.
Riverboat gambling a business that is hardly regulated and left $419.2 million in taxes and fees
For North American observers, the Buenos Aires casino boats serve as a South American counterpart to the U.S. riverboat casino tradition, albeit with a far more volatile legal environment. As legal challenges continue, the final outcome could reshape Argentina’s approach to gambling regulation—and potentially bring an end to one of the city’s most unique entertainment venues.
