Argentina’s government has presented a Bill for the Prevention of Gambling Addiction and Regulation of Online Gambling that would prohibit banks, payment service providers, and virtual asset service providers from serving unauthorized gambling platforms. The proposal, officially announced by the National Ministry of Health, aims to curb gambling addiction by targeting the financial infrastructure that supports illegal betting operations.
A core provision mandates that financial entities and crypto firms must not facilitate transactions for gambling sites lacking a domestic license. Supervisory bodies would gain powers to block money flows to these portals, forcing exchanges, fiat on-ramps, and wallet providers to strengthen on-chain and off-chain monitoring. The bill also proposes amendments to the Criminal Code imposing prison sentences of two to four years for individuals or entities that act as logistical or technological intermediaries for clandestine betting platforms.
The legislative push follows a nationwide blocking of the prediction market platform Polymarket in March 2026, ordered by a local court at the request of the Buenos Aires City Lottery. Authorities argue that event-based trading can constitute unauthorized betting. The new bill could widen enforcement against similar platforms and the financial intermediaries that process their transactions. Firms like MoonPay, which were reportedly used by local betting portals, would face increased compliance scrutiny.
The bill is now under review in the Chamber of Deputies committees. If enacted, it would make financial access a central test for online gambling compliance, requiring crypto intermediaries to not only identify their customers but also monitor where funds are directed, potentially reshaping how offshore betting sites reach Argentine users.
