Córdoba city has opened a new regulatory front against gambling after initiatives were made public on April 23, 2026, to eliminate machines with elements of chance in children’s spaces, in a move that signals tighter control over early exposure to gaming in Argentina.
The debate took place within the Addiction Prevention Committee of the City Council, chaired by Verónica Garade Panetta, with participation from key officials including María Florencia Ponce Márquez (Public Shows), Micaela Sarmiento (Municipal Control Authority), Cristina Nallino (Community Development), and specialists such as Enrique Dutra and Liliana González. The initiative targets machines that, although presented as skill-based games, deliver rewards through chance, creating a regulatory “grey area.”
The legislative file 12003/C/24, backed by council members from the UCR and Frente Cívico blocs, seeks to explicitly ban these devices in child-focused environments and reinforce the existing ordinance that already prohibits gambling within the city.
Córdoba already governs online gambling through Provincial Law 10.793 (2021), which establishes the Lotería de Córdoba, chaired in 2026 by David Urreta, as the authority responsible for licensing, supervision and enforcement. Operators contribute approximately 10% of gross revenue to the state. The framework was further strengthened by Law 10.986 (2024), tightening rules on advertising and promotion.
Verónica Garade Panetta
The move comes amid a rapidly expanding market. In Argentina, online gambling is estimated to reach around $1.7 billion in 2026, with approximately 4.8 million users, while more than 20 jurisdictions already operate under their own regulatory frameworks.
On one side, these initiatives strengthen minor protection and the legitimacy of the regulated market; on the other, they reinforce a model in which the state allows gambling under license but tightens control over access points and regulatory gaps.
Operators must respond within 15 days with technical reports on their machines, while the City Council advances toward potentially stricter legislation. Córdoba positions itself as a regulatory testing ground, signaling the next phase of gaming in Argentina, less tolerance for grey areas and greater control over how, where and who can access gambling.
