Salta orders removal of gambling advertisements from buses
The Municipality of Salta has ordered SAETA, the State Automobile Transport Public Limited Company, to immediately remove all advertising related to gambling, sports betting, and online betting platforms displayed on public passenger transport units. The state-owned company must prove compliance with the measure to the General Directorate of Visual Spaces within five days, under penalty of sanctions provided for by current regulations.
The decision is based on Ordinance 16.369, which expressly prohibits the promotion, dissemination, and advertising of gambling and betting within the municipal jurisdiction. The restriction covers both in-person betting and betting carried out through digital platforms, and reflects the growing concern of local authorities about the reach of these types of messages in everyday environments with high public exposure.
The regulation provides for a single exception, for games organized by duly accredited non-profit entities, provided that the funds obtained are used for social or charitable purposes. In these cases, the communication must be limited to informing about the activity, without incorporating promotional elements.
The municipal Executive pointed out that the order is part of a broader strategy aimed at preventing problem gambling. In addition, they said, it seeks to regulate the use of public space and reduce the presence of betting advertising in transport media, considered especially sensitive due to its reach to minors and other vulnerable groups.
Tags: Municipality of Salta, SAETA, betting advertising, Ordinance 16,369