Gonzalo Atanasof Urges Unity Against Illegal Gambling in Buenos Aires
The Faculty of Economic Sciences at the National University of La Plata (UNLP) became the epicenter of a fundamental debate on the integrity of the gaming sector and citizen safety. As part of the "Activa las Alertas" (Activate the Alerts) series of talks, over 160 attendees gathered to analyze gaming regulation, the impact of illegal betting, and the decisive role justice must play today. The event, organized by the Nexum Foundation in collaboration with UNLP, featured prominent figures from the judicial and administrative spheres of the province of Buenos Aires.
During his speech, the president of the Lottery and Casinos Institute (IPLyC Buenos Aires), Gonzalo Atanasof, emphasized the need for a multidimensional approach to confront what he described as a silent addiction. With the backing of the provincial government, Atanasof stressed that the only effective way to dismantle criminal structures is through coordinated and unified work among the three branches of government. This institutional synergy, according to the official, allows for the systematic shutdown of websites operating outside current legal regulations.
Technical Challenges and the Complexity of the Digital Framework
The head of IPLyC acknowledged that the fight against illegal online gambling represents a challenge of considerable magnitude due to its complex technical architecture. As these platforms often have operational terminals located abroad, prosecuting the crime becomes a task that requires perseverance and innovation in control methods. Atanasof was emphatic in stating that the fight is worthwhile because not everything should be treated the same in society, especially emphasizing that minors cannot participate in betting, influencers should not promote illegal sites, and payment systems must stop processing payments for unofficial platforms.
Along the same lines, San Isidro prosecutor Patricio Ferrari delved into the evolution of crime into the virtual environment. Ferrari argued that, in the current era, crime has migrated from the streets to screens, forcing security forces and justice to implement cyber-patrolling strategies. The prosecutor also focused on the role played by certain content creators in the illegal gambling scheme, highlighting the actions being taken to curb the participation of public figures in promotional campaigns for unlicensed sites.
Protection of Minors and the Need for Judicial Specialization
The preventive perspective was highlighted by the presentations of prosecutors Carmen Ibarra and Virginia Bravo. Ibarra focused her analysis on child and adolescent gambling addiction from a normative perspective, asserting that creating spaces for exchange and education is the most effective tool to address this problem responsibly. For her part, La Plata prosecutor Virginia Bravo gave a technical presentation on the regulatory framework for illegal gambling. Bravo concluded that, in addition to having solid laws, it is imperative that officials receive constant training and technological tools to ensure greater transparency and efficiency in criminal investigations.
There is great ease of access and a significant lack of knowledge: young people do not know that they are engaging in an illegal activity, nor do they understand the legal responsibilities and consequences of their actions.
These words from La Plata Guarantee Judge Agustín Crispo closed the meeting with a reflection on the vulnerability of new generations to illegal online gambling. Crispo warned about the worrying ease with which young people can access these sites and the importance for parents and educators to understand the scope of the problem to avoid serious legal consequences.
To formalize these intentions, the authorities present concluded the day with the signing of a commitment agreement between IPLyC, the rector of UNLP, Martín López Armengol, and the head of the Nexum Foundation, Pablo Carrera. This agreement is part of the provincial campaign "Viciar con las Apuestas #NoDa" (Getting Hooked on Betting #NoGood), which seeks to consolidate training and debate spaces to protect adolescents from the risks associated with unregulated gambling.
Tags: Argentina, online betting Argentina, illegal gambling Argentina, IPLYC Argentina