Argentina Senate: New bill to curb child gambling addiction
National Senator Gerardo Zamora has presented a bill to the Upper House that seeks to establish strict limits on online gambling advertising, with the primary objective of protecting minors. The parliamentarian for Santiago del Estero emphasized that the safety of children and adolescents from the risks of gambling is an unavoidable responsibility of the State and that, given the current scenario, it is urgent to set clear limits for the industry.
The initiative arises in response to a worrying reality in the country, where more and more young people are accessing virtual betting platforms without real protections to prevent their participation. The project proposes to comprehensively regulate the advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of these brands to prevent their messages from reaching children. In addition, the legislative proposal places a special focus on the educational sphere, demanding that school institutions be declared and guaranteed as spaces free of any content related to betting.
Severe restrictions on advertising and the end of celebrity ambassadors
The core of the project promoted by Zamora includes a series of tactical prohibitions designed to reduce the attractiveness and visibility of betting among minors. Among the most prominent points of the regulation are:
- The absolute prohibition of advertising campaigns designed or specifically aimed at minors.
- The ban on the participation of celebrities, public figures, or high-profile athletes in promotional materials for sportsbooks.
- The restriction of broadcasting gambling advertising during the transmission of sporting events.
- The elimination of welcome bonuses, a very common acquisition tool on digital platforms.
These measures seek to break the aspirational link that many young people develop with gambling when they see their idols promoting these activities. The senator warned that online gambling addiction affects a growing number of adolescents in Argentina, estimating that millions of minors are currently exposed to these platforms in a vulnerable environment.
Education and technological blocking as pillars of prevention
Beyond commercial prohibitions, the bill integrates educational and technical control components to strengthen prevention. The initiative stipulates the mandatory blocking of betting sites on all connectivity networks of educational establishments. This technical measure will be complemented by the promotion of education and awareness programs on problem gambling, integrating the topic into the school agenda to provide students with critical tools against risk.
For Zamora, the expansion of online gambling in the national territory cannot continue to develop in a regulatory vacuum. Regulating advertising is not just an administrative procedure, but a necessary step to protect the mental health and integrity of new generations. With this proposal, the Argentine Senate opens a fundamental debate on how to balance the development of a digital industry with the effective protection of the most sensitive sectors of society.
Tags: Argentina, gambling addiction Argentina, online betting Argentina, Gerardo Zamora