Betcris seeks to enter Argentina’s online gaming market

The Buenos Aires Province Institute of Lottery and Casinos (IPLyC, in Spanish) announced Monday that four new candidates have been included in the Registry of Applicants in the last eight days, the most recent being the joint venture set up by TV Global Entreprises Ltd. (Betcris) and Impresora internacional de valores S.A.I.C. (IVISA).

IVISA is an Argentine company owned by the Rosenzvit family. It is a local firm, initially set up in 1963 to provide graphic design services. Since then, it has become a pioneer in the stock market, through the incorporation of state-of-the-art technology for the printmaking and customization of checks, safety products and lottery tickets, among others. Now, IVISA is diving into a new business segment: the gaming sector, through the installation of online and offline gaming systems and the subsequent development of its own wagers processing solutions.

With this announcement, the joint venture set up by IVISA and Betcris now joins the list of candidates who have lodged their applications in the last week, including Betway, Bet365 and Codere.

In this way, the Registy of Applicants for the seven online gaming licenses available in Buenos Aires Province is now made up of nine joint venures and two local firms.

Joint ventures:

1 - Atlántica de Juegos S.A. and Stars Interactive Limited (Stars Group)

2 - ArgenBingo S.A. and Will Hill Limited S.A. (William Hill)

3 - Bingo Pilar and PPB Counter Party Services Limited (Paddy Power Betfair)

4 - BinBaires S.A. and Intralot International Limited

5 - Hotel Casino Tandil S.A. and Dynamo Tyche S.A. (Playtech Software Ltd.)

6 - IberArgen S.A. and Codere Latam

7 – Bingo King and Betway

8 – Pasteko and Hillside (Bet365)  

9 – TV Global Entreprises LTD and Impresora internacional de valores SAIC  

Argentine companies:

10 - Biyemas S.A.

11 - Slots Machines

A total of 24 companies filed the relevant documents required to lodge their applications at the Registry. That is why, in addition to those two local companies and nine joint ventures officially admitted as applicants, it is estimated that ten other companies are already filling the relevant documents to participate in the bidding process as well, and at least a total of 20 companies would compete for the seven licenses available. The bids will have to be submitted before the IPLyC on June 25.

It is worth noting that, up to now, many renowned international operators have already joined the race for the online gaming license, including William Hill, 888, Paddy Power Betfair, Intralot, Playtech, PokerStars, Canada-based Stars Group, Codere LatAm and now, Betcris, Betway and Bet365.