Buenos Aires legislative pressure to regulate online gambling
The administrative paralysis in the Chamber of Deputies of the province of Buenos Aires has triggered a chain reaction among legislators from various blocs, who are seeking to force a debate on security in the digital ecosystem. Given the delay in the launch of the recently created Gambling, Lottery, and Problem Gambling Prevention commission, 12 initiatives have been revived that aim to protect the market and, fundamentally, the most vulnerable sectors of the Buenos Aires population.
The current scenario is complex. While this new legislative working space is tasked with overseeing and regulating new technologies applied to gambling, internal disputes over the formation of the commissions have prevented decisions on sensitive issues such as sponsorship and advertising. In this context, the urgency to establish clear rules has led parliamentarians to insist on projects ranging from a total ban on advertising to the implementation of facial recognition technologies.
Proposals for a restructuring of the legal framework
One of the most disruptive proposals comes from Deputy Ricardo Lissalde, a member of the Frente Renovador. His initiative proposes to immediately repeal any regulation governing online gambling in the province, arguing that the current framework originated from a legislative irregularity. Lissalde questions that the current regulation was included in a Budget Law in 2019, a tool that by definition is annual and should not contain permanent articles, which in his opinion vitiates the legality of the activity as it is known today.
In a more technical regulatory vein, Deputy Diego Garciarena, head of the UCR + Cambio Federal bloc, promotes the strengthening of provincial licenses. His project requires any site operating in Buenos Aires territory to have mandatory biometric validation and facial recognition systems. This position is shared by Romina Braga, from the Civic Coalition, who, in addition to proposing real-time verification for access, seeks to expressly prohibit the use of credit cards to top up balances, attempting to curb user indebtedness.
Focus on child protection and education
Youth problem gambling is the issue that seems to generate the most consensus, albeit with different nuances in the proposed solutions. Valentín Miranda (UCR) has presented a mega-project that unifies various cross-cutting concerns. His 25-page text proposes, among other points, preventing the participation of food debtors in betting and requiring a detailed registration per player on each authorized platform, reinforcing the traceability of the operation.
For his part, legislator Carlos Puglelli directly targets the marketing of sportsbooks. His proposal seeks to prohibit any advertising piece that features adolescents or suggests that chance can improve intellectual or physical performance. In line with this, Deputy Ayelén Rasquetti insists on the need for preventive campaigns in schools and specific training in conjunction with the General Directorate of Culture and Education. Rasquetti also proposes that all gambling advertising must include a warning about the harms of compulsive gambling for the family environment.
Assistance and prevention from the State
Mental health and direct support are also part of the package of revived laws. Alejandra Lordén, president of the UCR bloc, seeks to create a massive awareness campaign covering radio, television, and digital media, specifically focused on the risks of virtual betting for children and adolescents. In a complementary direction, Silvana Vaccarezza proposes the creation of a free telephone helpline for advice and support that provides psychological assistance and referrals to specialized institutions for parents and victims of problem gambling.
From other sectors, such as Peronism represented by Leonardo Moreno, there is an insistence on a comprehensive regulatory framework that not only prevents harmful behaviors but also acts firmly against fraud and money laundering, imposing severe penalties on firms that violate the law. Finally, Juan Esper, from the Derecha Popular bloc, holds one of the most restrictive positions by proposing a total ban on the promotion and advertising of online operators, considering it a fundamental step to mitigate the social consequences of gambling disorder.
Despite the announcement on February 24 of the creation of a special commission to address this issue with urgency, the lack of political agreements keeps these 12 initiatives on hold. The business and civil community is closely following this process, understanding that the regulation of the online market in the province of Buenos Aires requires an update that no longer depends on temporary conveniences but becomes a sustainable state policy.
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