They propose banning betting advertising in Santa Fe
The bill provincial deputy Alicia Azanza filed in the Santa Fe Chamber of Deputies proposes to completely flip the current approach to gambling advertising. Instead of coexisting with ads carrying warning legends or with a good-practices manual, the province would move to a regime of total prohibition of the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of games of chance and betting across its territory.
To do so, the text acts on three provincial rules. It repeals the first article of law 12,991, which only required including warnings about gambling risks in advertising pieces; it rewrites article 20 of law 14,235 on online gaming, to replace the model based on a good-practices manual with an absolute restriction; and it modifies article 21 of law 14,293 on gambling addiction, in order to eliminate the exceptions that until now allowed advertising authorised by the Santa Fe Lottery Social Assistance Fund.
The prohibition's scope is broad. It covers any gaming modality, in person or online, and every broadcast support, from print, radio and television media to public spaces, sporting events, the internet, social networks, apps, messaging services and the actions of influencers and content creators. It also expressly bans the sponsorship of teams, clubs, athletes and shows when it seeks to promote operators or betting. The only exit provided is institutional, educational, health or prevention campaigns disseminated by public bodies, along with communications aimed at assistance, treatment and self-exclusion.
In her grounds, Azanza argued that betting became omnipresent, on television, radio, social networks, club shirts and influencer recommendations, and that it is presented as a game or an opportunity despite hiding a problem that affects the health of many people and families, especially the youngest, while she objected that the State warns about the dangers of compulsive gambling while enabling those who profit from the activity to incite people to play. If the initiative advances in committees and becomes law, the provincial Executive would have ninety days to adapt the current regulations, under a sanctions regime ranging from the removal of content and fines to the temporary closure of authorised establishments.
Tags: Alicia Azanza, gambling advertising ban in Santa Fe, betting sponsorship, online gambling