The province has introduced mandatory QR-based payments across casinos and betting shops, shifting a cash-heavy sector towards traceable digital transactions to strengthen oversight and control.
Buenos Aires Province has mandated QR code payments at all land-based gambling venues, requiring bettors to place wagers digitally rather than in cash.
The measure, implemented by the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos (IPLyC), applies to casinos, racetracks and betting shops, and has been formalised through publication in the Official Gazette. It introduces an interoperable QR system linked to bank accounts or debit cards, marking a structural shift in how in-person gambling transactions are processed.
Historically reliant on cash, the sector will now operate within a framework designed to make transactions traceable. Authorities said the move is intended to improve oversight of gambling activity, reduce tax evasion and strengthen financial controls across the province.
Under the new rules, all bets placed in physical venues must be processed through QR codes compatible with existing banking infrastructure. The interoperable system allows users to pay directly from their bank accounts or linked cards, removing the need for cash at the point of bet.
The regulation establishes a new operational baseline for gambling operators, requiring them to integrate digital payment acceptance into their retail environments. By shifting transactions onto electronic rails, IPLyC gains greater visibility over the flow of funds across the sector.
Cash usage has long presented challenges for regulators in gambling, particularly in relation to auditing, tax collection and the detection of irregular activity. The introduction of mandatory digital payments creates a record of each transaction, enabling closer scrutiny of both operators and customers.
Payments data and regulatory oversight
The decision reflects a broader use of payments infrastructure as a regulatory tool. By routing transactions through traceable systems, authorities can monitor financial activity in near real time and identify inconsistencies more easily than in cash-based environments.
IPLyC stated digitising payments will support efforts to limit irregularities linked to cash transactions, while also strengthening the province’s ability to enforce compliance requirements. The availability of transaction-level data is expected to improve both financial supervision and operational transparency.
The policy also aligns with wider trends across Latin America, where QR-based payments and account-to-account transfers have gained traction as scalable alternatives to cash. Brazil’s Pix, for example, has driven widespread adoption of QR payments across retail and services, offering regulators a clearer view of transaction flows.
Monitoring player behaviour
Beyond financial oversight, the regulation introduces a new layer of visibility into player activity. By linking bets to digital payment methods, authorities will be able to track spending patterns more closely, supporting the identification of potentially harmful behaviour.
IPLyC noted that the digitisation of payments could facilitate the detection of excessive spending and other risk indicators associated with problem gambling. The ability to analyse transaction histories provides a data-driven approach to monitoring activity that is not possible in cash-based systems.
Alongside the payments mandate, IPLyC has signed a cooperation agreement with the Nexum Foundation to strengthen policies around the prevention and early detection of problem gambling.
The agreement, signed by IPLyC President Gonzalo Atanasof and Nexum Foundation representative Pablo Carrera, outlines plans for training programmes, awareness initiatives and collaborative work across public institutions. Particular attention will be given to the growth of illegal online gambling and its impact on younger demographics.
Both organisations stated that addressing gambling-related harm requires coordination between the state, education system, health services and the justice sector, reflecting a broader policy approach beyond payments alone.
This story first appeared in Payment Expert’s sister publication, SBC Noticias.
