Argentine lottery operator launches online sports betting and casino site

Gaming authorities in Argentina’s Misiones province have launched a new state-sponsored online gambling site.

On Wednesday, the Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos of the State Society (IPLyC) announced the debut of its Mision Bet online gambling site. The site, which is jointly managed by IPLyC and local firm Integrated Systems SA, offers sports betting, slots, casino games and poker to the 1.1m residents of Misiones, which is located in the country’s northeast.

Speaking at the site’s official launch at the Hotel Maltei in Misiones’ capital of Posadas, IPLyC president Eduardo Torres said the plan was to eventually expand the site’s reach to the rest of the country. Torres said he expects the site’s launch to provide “a chance to start arguing again with colleagues from other lotteries.”

The journey to launching the site was a lengthy one, as Torres said he began discussing the matter with the province’s licensed casino operators shortly after he took the job in 2003, but “unfortunately, our colleagues … acted only against legalized gambling in the country.”