Red Cross: 6/10 Argentine teens exposed to online gambling
A national study conducted by the Argentine Red Cross has raised a new alarm about the rise of online gambling among young people aged 13 to 18. The research, carried out by the National Youth Coordination and the Humanitarian Observatory with support from the Empress Shôken Fund, covered 11,421 students from 231 schools in 16 provinces and reveals a scenario of high exposure, low risk perception, and growing emotional impact.
Massive exposure: the social circle as the main gateway
The results show that 6 out of 10 teenagers are directly or indirectly linked to online gambling, either because they play (16%) or because they live with people who gamble (45%). Only 27% have no contact with gamblers.
The peer environment is decisive:
- 57% of teenagers who gamble do so under the influence of friends.
- 78% of those who do not gamble learned about the phenomenon through their social circle.
The study also highlights the strong impact of digital advertising, sports broadcasts, and influencers, which contribute to normalizing the activity and facilitating access for minors in environments without age control.
Motivations, consequences, and family role
The reasons for starting vary: among younger teens, curiosity, social pressure, and low risk perception predominate; among older ones, economic expectations. 40% of teenagers who gamble live with adults who also do so.
The impact is already reflected in worrying indicators:
- 79% recognize the risk of addiction.
- 69% report anxiety or emotional distress.
- 47–49% suffer from sleep disturbances or poor academic performance.
- 12% have gone into debt.
The gender gap is marked: 24% of boys have gambled, compared to 8% of girls, although girls report greater emotional effects.
Regulatory confusion: most cannot distinguish legal from illegal platforms
Between 51% and 66% of respondents cannot identify whether a site is legal, and 80% believe that current systems to prevent minors’ access do not work. Furthermore, 4 out of 10 teenagers demand school training on risks, algorithms, digital wallets, and ways to seek help.
Recommendations: education, regulation, and technological controls
The report highlights that both family and school environments lack spaces for dialogue: between 79% and 87% state that the topic is hardly ever discussed. Therefore, the Red Cross recommends:
- Strengthening age verification and blocking illegal sites.
- Regulating digital advertising and influencers that directly impact minors.
- Incorporating digital and financial literacy in schools.
- Creating prevention campaigns designed together with teenagers.
- Improving the security of virtual wallets and identification mechanisms.
According to José Scioli, director of the Humanitarian Observatory,
“The data clearly show the risk to which boys and girls are exposed. Constant advertising and digital wallets are entry points that do not distinguish between legal and illegal platforms.”
The study concludes that the problem is growing rapidly, especially in the AMBA, the most affected region, and demands a coordinated response among schools, families, the public sector, and digital platforms.
Tags: Argentina, Red Cross, online gaming Argentina, responsible gaming Argentina, Argentine gambling addiction