SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
As anticipated the upcoming Buenos Aires online gambling tender will see a raft of international gambling operators’ partner with Argentine enterprises seeking to secure one of seven IPLyC licenses.
Setting a 25 June deadline for final applications, this May, BA’s regulatory gambling body IPLyC published its ‘official criteria for competition’, outlining key venture requirements to compete for BA-7 licenses.
Though restricted to forming local partnerships, Buenos Aires’ opening has caught the attention of foreign operators seeking to secure a position in what could likely be South America’s next big online gambling marketplace.
Argentine business news sources report that established giants The Stars Group, William Hill and Flutter Entertainment (formerly Paddy Power Betfair Plc) have committed to forming local partnerships seeking to secure their future BA spots.
Toronto TSX listed the Stars Group Inc has partnered with gaming hall operator Atlantica de Juegos, whilst FTSE rivals William Hill and Flutter Entertainment will work with BA province bingo hall operators ArgenBingo and Bingo Pilar respectively.
Further tender arrangements see FTSE gambling technology group Playtech Plc partner with Hotel Casino Tandil, whilst Athens-listed technology group Intralot SPA will pursue its BA market entry with BinBaires SA.
As yet, Spanish gambling enterprises Codere SA, CIRSA and Manuel Lao Hernández’s (former owner of CIRSA) Casinos de Buenos Aires have yet to confirm their expected partnerships.
All seven BA licences are set for a ‘non-extendable’ 15-year period, with IPLyC charging all applicants ARG $5 million ($120,000) for the ‘right to participate’ in the BA online tender.
Once sanctioned, winning BA applicants will by a further ‘single fixed charge’ of ARG $ 65,000,000 (approximately $ 1.4 million) to operate their licenses.
