Decree Ordering the Dissolution of the Argentine Lottery

On February 2, 2018, Decree No. 95/2018 (the “Decree”), which amended the Ministries Law, was published in the Official Gazette. Among other provisions, the Decree ordered the dissolution and subsequent liquidation of the Argentine  Lottery, a company owned by the Federal State (the “National Lottery”), on the grounds that there are no longer legal reasons to keep the games and contests  that are currently organized by such entity. Additionally, the Decree asserts that controlling gambling activities is not within the functions of the federal administration and that, considering the lack of a territory and jurisdiction where the National Lottery should perform its duties, it is no longer necessary to maintain the existence of this entity since the reasons inherent to its purpose no longer exist.

The National Lottery was in charge of the administration, regulation, commercialization, control and audit of gambling activities in Argentina pursuant to Law No 18,226 on National Charity Lottery and Casinos. In that regard, the National Lottery was in charge of granting the authorization to companies to perform contests and sweepstakes when such authorization was required by the relevant regulations.

Law No. 18,226 was repealed by the Decree, as well as Decree No. 558/1998 which ruled the requirements, conditions and obligations that those involved in the organization, administration or commercialization of sweepstakes and contests through different mass media had to address. On this basis, and as a result of the dissolution of the National Lottery and the derogation of the regulations mentioned above, the organization of contests and sweepstakes is not subject to any prior federal authorization for the time being.