47% of Argentine youth identify online betting, Kids Online 2025
The rise of online betting among minors has once again raised alarms in the Argentine educational system. The Kids Online 2025 Survey, conducted by UNICEF and UNESCO, revealed that almost half of children and adolescents know the names of betting sites, while 1 in 4 young people between 12 and 17 years old have already bet at least once. For educational institutions, psychologists, and gambling addiction specialists, the phenomenon is growing at an unprecedented speed, driven by the strong advertising presence of the sector.
A concern that reached classrooms before statistics did
In the Marist Schools Network, made up of 26 institutions, the problem was not initially detected by seeing kids betting, but by seeing the consequences.
Marcelo De Brito, general director of the network, describes the scenario:
- Students in debt unable to cover their losses.
- Alerts from the IT security system showing massive attempts to access prohibited sites.
- Cases of students who stopped eating because they had lost money betting.
Faced with this situation, the schools incorporated curricular content about cyber betting and digital risks, aware that cell phones “have become small portable casinos.”
Omnipresent advertising and an ecosystem that normalizes betting
Psychologist Bruno Gobelli, a specialist in compulsive gambling and school counselor, sums up the problem: “A kid opens TikTok, Instagram, or watches a match, and everywhere there is betting advertising.”
The presence of legal and illegal betting houses is massive on:
- Social networks
- Television
- Stadiums
- Jerseys and sponsors
- Sports programs
Meanwhile, Congress is discussing a law, with preliminary approval, that seeks to restrict this advertising, although the project risks losing parliamentary status if it is not addressed in the Senate before November 30.
A phenomenon that has grown unchecked in recent years
Online betting platforms began to expand in Argentina from 2019, when the City and Province of Buenos Aires granted the first licenses. Today, all provinces regulate online gambling, while illegal sites that do not control minors’ access also operate.
Kids Online shows:
- 24% of adolescents bet or have bet
- Among males, the figure rises to 32%
- Among females, 15%
- 47% of children and adolescents know betting brands
Specialists warn that at adolescent social gatherings it is increasingly common for groups to bet while watching matches, even without knowing the teams.
Gobelli estimates that 2 out of 10 kids who start “for fun” may develop addictive behaviors.
Legislative debate: regulate, restrict, or ban advertising?
The political discussion reflects two clear positions:
1. In favor of limiting advertising
They argue it especially affects minors, normalizes compulsive betting, and exposes adolescents in full development.
Deputy Marcela Campagnoli recalls international precedents such as the Premier League, which will ban betting sponsors on jerseys from 2026–27.
2. In favor of strengthening control over illegal sites
This is the stance of ALEA and provincial authorities.
Ida López, head of the Mendoza Gaming Institute, states that restricting advertising by legal operators would strengthen the clandestine market, which already controls 70% of the business according to official estimates.
The Church and social organizations demand immediate action
The Argentine Episcopal Conference warned that letting the law fall: “Would be a gesture of indifference to a problem that affects thousands of families.”
They demand a national regulatory framework that complements provincial regulations, with stricter controls and preventive tools.
Voices from experience: when advertising feeds addiction
Users who have gone through gambling addiction also describe the influence of advertising:
- Juan, 30 years old, former compulsive gambler:
- “I saw the brands at the stadium and felt I had to bet.”
- Valentino, a young man who testified in the Senate:
- “In every match, online gambling is promoted, even on the jerseys.”
Both agree: the first step is to talk about the problem and have support networks.
Tags: Argentina, Argentina betting, Argentine Gambling Addiction, Unicef Bets, Kids Online 2025