Church, leaders urge Senate to address online gambling law now
The Episcopal Commission of Social Pastoral and Deputy Maximiliano Ferraro have asked the Argentine Senate to advance this month with the law regulating online gambling and preventing gambling addiction, due to the risk that the project, approved in the Chamber of Deputies in 2024, may lose parliamentary status.
Pressure grows for the Senate to resume the debate
The discussion about the Law on the Prevention of Gambling Addiction and Regulation of Online Gambling added new public demands this week. Both the Episcopal Commission of Social Pastoral and the national deputy Maximiliano Ferraro urged the Upper House to urgently address the initiative, which has been waiting for almost a year since its approval in the Chamber of Deputies.
Social Pastoral, chaired by Monsignor Dante Braida, expressed its “deep concern” over the lack of progress in the Senate, despite the fact that the project already has half approval and priority to be debated. In an open letter, the entity called to exercise “political will” to update the regulatory framework in a scenario where online gambling grows unchecked.
The ecclesiastical body warned that the delay puts at risk months of work, technical consensus, and legislative agreements. It also recalled that the closing of the ordinary session period could leave the initiative on hold again, prolonging a debate that has already extended through various specialized commissions.
Ferraro demands decisions and highlights the pillars of the project
Meanwhile, Deputy Maximiliano Ferraro published an opinion piece where he requested the Senate to “break the paralysis” and move forward with the text. The legislator highlighted that the law establishes key tools to modernize the regulation of the sector:
- robust identity verification,
- spending limits and self-exclusion mechanisms,
- increased sanctions against illegal platforms,
- unified criteria for advertising and user recruitment,
- and greater state supervision in a highly digitalized market.
Ferraro recalled that the project was analyzed in hearings alongside health specialists, technology leaders, unions, sports organizations, youth representatives, and actors from regulated gambling.
A debate that crosses sectors and worries the industry
The request from the Church and legislators adds to previous warnings from leaders of the Civic Coalition, who weeks ago demanded that the Senate prioritize the initiative to prevent it from losing parliamentary status.
For formal operators in the sector, national regulation would allow:
- harmonizing criteria among provinces,
- strengthening the distinction between legal and illegal offerings,
- enhancing user protection,
- and providing greater predictability and control in an already fully active market.
The expectation is set for the coming days: the Senate must reach a consensus on a report before the end of the month so that the law finally reaches the floor.
Tags: Argentina, compulsive gambling, Argentina betting, iGaming Argentina, Law on the Prevention of Gambling Addiction and Regulation of Online Gaming