Río Negro reforms laws to combat teen online problem gambling
The Legislature of the province of Río Negro, in Argentina, has begun the analysis of a bill that seeks to modernize tools for problem gambling prevention. The proposal, promoted by legislator Juan Carlos Martín of the PRO – Unión Republicana bloc, focuses attention on the worrying increase in online gambling among minors. This initiative aims to update Provincial Law N° 4108, originally sanctioned in 2006, so that its articles explicitly contemplate new virtual gaming modalities and ensure effective coverage throughout the Río Negro territory.
The proposed regulation designates the Provincial Public Health Council as the enforcement authority responsible for designing a comprehensive prevention system. This scheme will not be limited solely to clinical assistance but will integrate family support therapies, technical training programs for professionals, and mandatory educational campaigns in educational centers. Within this framework, the Agency for the Prevention and Assistance of Substance Abuse and Addictions (APASA) will play a fundamental role as the entity responsible for collecting statistics and monitoring detected cases, allowing for decision-making based on real and updated data.
The project's rationale highlights that the growth of digital gambling among adolescents is a national phenomenon that demands immediate intervention. According to figures from the Observatory of Addictions and Problematic Consumption cited in the document, it is estimated that 30% of the population has some connection to gambling. While the vast majority do so recreationally, there is 3.5% of problem gamblers and 1.5% of compulsive gamblers who require specialized attention. Legislator Martín emphasized that the province is at a critical moment to intervene through prevention before risky behavior becomes a consolidated addiction among youth.
Tags: Argentina, Rio Negro, Gambling addiction Argentina, Gambling addiction Rio Negro Argentina