Argentina’s Online Gambling Tax Receipts Surpass Full-Year 2025 Total

Argentina collected ARS123.856 billion from its indirect tax on online betting and gambling during the first nine months of 2026, exceeding the ARS93.658 billion received throughout 2025. The figures were reported by El Cronista, citing the country’s Revenue and Customs Control Agency, known as ARCA.

The January-September total was ARS30.198 billion above the previous full-year result, with three months remaining in 2026. iGaming Express reported the accumulated receipts as approximately US$81 million, compared with about US$61.25 million for 2025.

Consultancy Empiria estimated that collections increased by approximately 42% in real terms over the first nine months, incorporating an estimated September inflation rate of 1.8%. Empiria economist Lucas Tettamanti also placed the accumulated receipts at approximately 0.03% of Argentina’s GDP.

The two comparisons measure different developments. Passing the full-year 2025 total compares nine months with twelve, while the real growth estimate compares corresponding periods after accounting for inflation.

September Collections Remain Below July’s Peak

September receipts reached ARS17.255 billion, up from ARS16.975 billion in August. Both months remained below July’s ARS17.798 billion, the highest nominal monthly collection reported for the levy.

The sequence shows that collections remained elevated after July without setting another monthly record. The September increase over August was approximately 1.6%, calculated from the published peso figures.

These are tax receipts rather than operator revenue, customer deposits or total stakes. Their growth does not, by itself, establish an equivalent increase in the size of Argentina’s gambling market.

The original peso amounts also provide a consistent basis for comparing monthly collections. Published dollar equivalents depend on the exchange rate used and should be treated as approximate translations of those figures.

Online Levy Is Separate From the Slots Tax

ARCA’s guidance explains that the online gambling levy applies to gambling conducted through digital platforms. For registered domestic operators without the foreign involvement specified in the rules, the general rate is 5% of the net value of deposits made into a player’s gambling account.

A reduced 2.5% rate is available where specified investment and employment conditions are met. ARCA also lists a 7.5% rate for domestic operators outside the relevant register. Different provisions apply where foreign entities are involved. 

This structure means the headline figure concerns a particular indirect tax. It should not be presented as the total contribution from every tax paid by Argentina’s gambling sector.

A separate reporting category, labelled “cash betting”, generated ARS56.962 billion between January and September. El Cronista reported that ARCA identified this category as receipts from the specific tax on betting through electronic gambling machines. 

ARCA’s official guidance describes that levy as covering electronic slots and automated betting machines, regardless of whether wagers use tokens, coins, banknotes or another payment method. It applies at 0.95% of the value of each wager, with operators required to calculate and pay it fortnightly. The category therefore describes a separate tax regime, rather than simply identifying gambling transactions paid in physical cash.