El dinero se mueve entre amigos, no por la plataforma
ALEA considera que 'Fixture 2026' viola el artículo 301 bis del Código Penal al captar apuestas sin autorización, delito que conlleva penas de 3 a 6 años de prisión. El prode distribuye millones de pesos diarios, con premios de hasta US$ 50.000 y permite apuestas entre grupos de hasta 50 personas con límites de $ 70.000 por participante.
- ALEA acusa a Mercado Pago de violar el artículo 301 bis del Código Penal, delito que conlleva penas de 3 a 6 años de prisión
- Fixture 2026 registró más de 2,3 millones de argentinos en pocas semanas, con premios de hasta US$ 50.000
- El juego permite apuestas en grupos de hasta 50 personas con límites de $ 70.000 por participante, con premios de hasta $ 3.500.000
La cámara de loterías estatales acusa a Mercado Pago de operar ilegalmente su prode 'Fixture 2026', que permite apuestas con premios en dinero. La compañía sostiene que es una experiencia gratuita sin recaudación de fondos.
A regulatory body representing Argentina's state-controlled gambling authorities has formally accused Mercado Pago of operating an unlicensed betting operation through its World Cup prediction game, Fixture 2026. The complaint centers on whether the platform's mechanics—which allow users to wager money on match outcomes and compete for cash prizes—constitute illegal gambling under Article 301 bis of the Penal Code, a charge that carries prison sentences of three to six years.
The accusation arrives amid a broader national conversation about unregulated online betting. Congress has recently entertained legislation aimed at combating illegal gambling and preventing addiction, while various organizations have warned about the risks posed to minors by unlicensed casino promotions featuring social media influencers. Into this environment, ALEA—the Association of State Lotteries, Numbers Games, and Casinos, which oversees gambling regulation across the country—sent a formal notice to Mercado Pago questioning both the operation and legal standing of its tournament structure.
Fixture 2026 recreates the traditional Argentine prode, a prediction game that disappeared in 2018 when the National Lottery was shuttered. The app allows users to forecast match results and accumulate points by competing against others for monetary rewards. The scale is substantial: more than 2.3 million Argentines have already registered, uploading 60 million predictions. Daily prizes include 2,000 purchase orders redeemable on Mercado Pago and Mercado Libre, while top performers answer trivia questions for a chance at 20 million pesos daily. When the tournament concludes, the three highest-ranked players will compete for 50,000, 20,000, and 10,000 US dollars respectively.
The app also enables users to form groups of up to 50 people and choose between two competition modes: one framed as friendly play "for honor," and another called "por los porotos"—literally "for the beans," a colloquial reference to money. While the second option uses symbolic language following recent modifications, participants can stake up to 70,000 pesos each, meaning a group of 50 could pool 3.5 million pesos. The winner takes 70 percent of the accumulated pot, the runner-up 20 percent, and third place 10 percent. These mechanics are precisely what ALEA finds problematic: they resemble unauthorized betting operations, the organization argues, regardless of how the platform frames them.
Mercado Pago's response emphasizes that Fixture 2026 is free to enter and requires no purchase or payment from users. The company maintains that it neither collects nor redistributes user money at any stage, and that minors with savings accounts on the platform cannot access the game. According to the company's defense, participants earn points through correct predictions and compete for prizes obtained by answering general knowledge trivia questions—outcomes determined by skill rather than chance. Regarding group play, Mercado Pago clarifies that it does not facilitate or handle money transfers between friends; those transactions occur independently, outside the platform's control.
The tension reflects a deeper conflict within Argentina's gambling ecosystem. Legal platforms are working to distinguish themselves through proper regulation and licensing, while authorities pursue the closure of illegal operations—the Specialized Gambling Crimes Prosecutor's Office in Buenos Aires, for instance, blocked Polymarket in March following a complaint from the city's lottery. Mercado Pago, which is not an official FIFA sponsor and lacks official World Cup endorsement, launched Fixture 2026 at the start of the month as the tournament approached, rolling it out not only in Argentina but also in Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay.
Following the public dispute, negotiations between the parties took place, and according to reporting, Mercado Pago committed to making modifications to the tool. The company has been updating the app since its launch, and these changes appear to be part of ongoing discussions with gambling regulators. The outcome remains uncertain: whether authorities will accept the platform's structural adjustments, whether the legal framework will ultimately classify the game as authorized or prohibited, and how the broader legislative efforts in Congress will reshape the landscape for digital betting in the country.
Notable Quotes
Presenta características que podrían ser encuadradas como captación de apuestas sin autorización— ALEA, en su comunicación formal a Mercado Pago
No recauda ni redistribuye dinero de los usuarios en ninguna instancia; es una experiencia gratuita para mayores de 18 años— Mercado Pago, en su defensa
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does ALEA see this as illegal when Mercado Pago says no money changes hands on the platform itself?
Because the structure creates the conditions for betting. Users stake real money in group competitions, even if Mercado Pago doesn't touch it. The law doesn't care whether the platform handles the cash—it cares whether the platform is organizing a game of chance for money without a license.
But Mercado Pago claims it's skill-based, not chance. Doesn't that matter?
That's their argument, yes. But predicting World Cup results is fundamentally uncertain. You can't separate skill from luck when the outcome depends on what eleven players do on a field. ALEA sees through that distinction.
Why does this matter now, in 2026? Prediction games have existed for decades.
The old prode was run by the state lottery. This is a private financial company using its platform to organize betting without asking permission. The difference is who controls it and who profits.
What do the numbers tell us about how popular this is?
Over 2.3 million people signed up in weeks. That's not a niche product—that's mainstream adoption. It shows there's enormous appetite for this kind of game, which is exactly why regulators are nervous. The scale makes it impossible to ignore.
What happens next?
Mercado Pago promised modifications. But the real question is whether those changes address the core legal problem or just cosmetic details. If the game still functions as a betting operation, regulators will likely push harder. Congress is also moving on legislation, so the rules themselves may shift.