The Province of Santa Fe, Argentina, has formally advanced the launch of regulated online sports betting after publishing a national and international public tender to select licensees. The process follows the approval of Law 14.427 in December 2025 and its publication in the Official Gazette later in that month. Authorities say the framework is designed to regulate the market, prevent illegal gambling, and ensure state oversight of digital betting activities.
Santa Fe Opens Public Tender Window to Sports Betting Operators: Quick Summary of the Key Facts
- Santa Fe has formally launched a national and international public tender to regulate online sports betting under Law 14.427. The process seeks to select multiple qualified operators and closes on March 2, 2026.
- Licences will be granted for up to ten years, with a possible two-year extension, and require operators to pay a minimum fee of 15% of monthly Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR).
- The regulation introduces strict state oversight, anti-money laundering controls, and responsible gambling measures. Authorities say the system aims to eliminate unregulated gambling while securing public revenue and consumer protection.
Licence Terms, Fees, and Operational Limits
The call for Public National and International Tender No. 104/25 was published in Santa Fe’s official gazette on Monday, January 26, 2026, in the Caja de Asistencia Social Lotería de Santa Fe section. The process aims to select qualified operators to implement, operate, and manage online sports betting platforms in the province. Bids will be accepted until March 2, 2026, at 12:00 at the designated headquarters.
The provincial government confirmed that the system will allow multiple licensees rather than a single monopoly, similar to Finland’s approach last year. Authorities will grant licences to all bidders that meet the technical, legal, and economic requirements set by the province.
This approach is intended to channel betting activity into a formal and regulated framework under state control. Each licence will be valid for a maximum of ten years, with the option of a two-year extension at the discretion of the provincial government. Operators must pay a minimum fee equivalent to 15% of their monthly GGR.
The funds will be allocated to the Caja de Asistencia Social and public policy financing. Licensees will have up to 180 days after receiving the licence to implement their platforms. The regulatory framework explicitly excludes classic casino games such as roulette, slot machines, and traditional poker.
Online betting on lotteries or bingo is also prohibited, keeping the scope limited to sports and authorised events. Throughout the contract period, the province will retain unrestricted access to gaming systems to verify bets, prizes, and fee payments.
Authorised Betting and Compliance Requirements
The government of Santa Fe permits betting on existing and future sports competitions, including football, basketball, tennis, rugby, volleyball, motor racing, boxing, martial arts, hockey, golf, cycling, and certain horse racing modalities. Official horse racing programmes regulated under separate rules are excluded from this law.
Foreign companies may participate only through Temporary Unions with local companies, and strict financial requirements apply. Minimum net worth thresholds range from $42 million (approximately €35.36 million) for national participants to $120 million (roughly €101 million) for international companies, depending on structure.
The tender also incorporates anti-money laundering controls aligned with the standards of the Financial Information Unit and the Financial Action Task Force. The Caja de Asistencia Social Lotería de Santa Fe, under the Ministry of Economy, will be the enforcement authority for the system.
According to the tender documents, “the licences will be to implement, set up, operate, and exploit online sports betting in the Province of Santa Fe for the benefit of the Caja de Asistencia Social – Lotería de Santa Fe under the Ministry of Economy.” The framework also allows the authority to develop its own platform or award licences through competitive bidding.
Responsible gambling obligations form a central part of the regulation. Operators must implement self-exclusion tools, betting limits, clear risk information, and user support channels in line with provincial law on gambling addiction prevention. Once launched, participation will be limited to bettors located within Santa Fe, with the possibility of future agreements with other jurisdictions.
The provincial government says the new system is intended to bring online sports betting under formal regulation while reducing illegal activity. By opening the market to qualified operators and enforcing strict oversight, authorities aim to secure public revenue and consumer protections. The evaluation process following the March deadline will determine which companies are authorised to operate in Santa Fe.