ALEA: Federal Coordination to Strengthen Legal Gaming in Argentina

March 18 & 19, 2026 at the Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center

In the framework of SAGSE South America 2026, taking place on March 18–19 at the Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center, we spoke with the Asociación de Loterías Estatales de Argentina (ALEA), the organization that brings together the 24 state lotteries across the country. In this interview, the institution outlines its role as a federal “common table,” its shared priorities for 2026 — with a strong focus on combating illegal gambling and consolidating Responsible Gaming standards — and the need to deepen regulatory cooperation in Argentina and Latin America in response to an increasingly digital and transnational environment.

What is ALEA’s role today as a “common table” among its members? What can be achieved together that would be impossible if each lottery operated independently?

ALEA serves as a federal space for reference, training, coordination, and collective development among Argentina’s 24 state lotteries and the leading companies in the sector. It is, indeed, a common table where strategic information is shared, best practices are exchanged, and joint lines of action are defined to support the sector’s evolution.

This coordinated work makes it possible to promote common standards in Responsible Gaming, integrity, and sustainability, strengthening regulatory coherence across the country. Above all, it enables an articulated response to the growth of illegal gambling — a complex phenomenon that requires a strong and coordinated institutional position. Such joint action would be difficult to achieve if each jurisdiction acted in isolation.

Looking ahead to the 2026 agenda, what are the shared priorities among ALEA’s members, and which one is the most urgent?

Looking ahead to 2026, the most urgent priority is to deepen the fight against illegal gambling, particularly in digital environments, due to its direct impact on user protection — especially among vulnerable groups.

At the same time, members share an agenda focused on innovation and modernization of both traditional and online modalities, always with an emphasis on system sustainability. Within this framework, progress is being made on initiatives such as a national Responsible Gaming certification and the consolidation of a self-exclusion system — key tools to strengthen a regulated and secure environment.

As a central event on the institutional agenda, from April 21 to 24, 2026, the international workshop “Global Perspectives and Challenges of Legal Gaming: Emerging Trends from a Regulatory and Sustainable Approach” will be held at the Hilton Mendoza. This meeting was conceived as a space for analysis and exchange on the evolution of regulatory frameworks in response to new technological, economic, and social scenarios. Information about the program and registration will be available through ALEA’s institutional channels.

What type of coordination among regulators should be strengthened in Argentina and across LATAM, and what is a realistic first step forward?

In an increasingly digital and transnational environment, cooperation among regulators is no longer optional — it is a necessary condition. Strengthening information exchange, advancing toward more aligned regulatory criteria, and consolidating joint actions against illegality are essential steps.

A realistic first step is to institutionalize permanent technical working spaces with defined goals and shared tools. At ALEA, we promote this approach through federal roundtables, cooperation agreements, and the organization of national and international meetings, as well as active participation in regional and global forums for exchange.

This coordination not only strengthens regulatory capacity, but also reinforces the role of State Lotteries as public actors responsible for managing a sensitive activity under principles of legality, transparency, and social responsibility — ensuring that entertainment develops within a regulated framework and for the benefit of society.