Buenos Aires Province is tightening the screws on online wagering: licensed sportsbooks and casinos will be required to add biometric identification and “fe de vida” (a liveness check) using facial recognition to verify users in real time and keep minors out.
The rule, issued by the Provincial Lottery and Casino Institute (IPLyC), applies to the seven operators authorized in the province across the province-wide market. Authorities say the target is a common loophole: teens getting in with an adult’s credentials.
Government Minister Carlos Bianco said operators have up to 60 days to roll out the new controls. IPLyC will monitor implementation, and failures can lead to sanctions — including, in serious cases, loss of the operating licence.
IPLyC president Gonzalo Atanasof linked the move to a wider push to separate regulated play from the underground market. The agency has also pointed to more than 300 illegal betting sites, arguing that unlicensed platforms typically lack meaningful age gates.
For legal operators, the shift raises the compliance bar and adds cost: biometric vendors, security reviews and support for users who fail checks. Regulators are betting the extra friction at login is worth it if it materially reduces underage gambling.
