The national government in Argentina sent a comprehensive legislative proposal to the Senate aimed at addressing online gambling, addiction risks, and the growth of illegal betting platforms, with a particular focus on protecting minors and tightening oversight of digital operations.
Presented to Congress after its initial announcement, the initiative sets out a nationwide framework to regulate online gambling while treating gambling-related harm as a public health issue.
Officials warn rising access to digital betting services, especially among adolescents, alongside concerns about compulsive behavior linked to technology use. “The problematic use of digital technologies and compulsive behaviors associated with gambling […] constitute complex and multidimensional phenomena.”
Data cited from national health monitoring indicates more than a quarter of secondary school students participated in gambling during the past year, with online betting showing higher levels of engagement.
Public health and prevention measures
The bill places gambling prevention within a broader health policy framework, defining pathological gambling prevention as a nationwide priority. It also emphasizes that harmful gambling behaviors extend beyond severe clinical cases and can include patterns that affect financial stability, social relationships and family life.
Responsibilities are assigned to health authorities to coordinate prevention programs, education initiatives, treatment efforts and research across provinces. The plan includes awareness campaigns in schools and communities, training for professionals dealing with mental health and behavioral risks, and the systematic collection of epidemiological data.
The proposal also highlights coordination between national and local jurisdictions under the existing federal system, aiming to align policies across regions while respecting provincial authority over gambling regulation.
Financial controls and enforcement
The proposal seeks to eliminate unauthorized gambling operations through financial and technological restrictions. It involves cooperation among banking authorities, communications regulators, securities supervisors and domain registry services.
“Financial entities, payment service providers or virtual asset providers are prohibited from offering their services to unauthorized gambling operators.”
Banks, payment firms and crypto providers would be barred from supporting unauthorized operators. The Central Bank would restrict transfers involving accounts held by minors, while communications authorities and domain managers could block illegal gambling websites.
Harsher penalties and advertising rules
The bill proposes prison sentences of three to six years for operating illegal betting systems and two to four years for providing financial, technological, digital or advertising support to such operations.
Advertising restrictions would apply across television, radio, social media, digital platforms and public spaces. Influencers, agencies and media organizations would be responsible for verifying that operators have authorization before promoting them.
Authorized operators could not target minors or associate gambling with social success, financial improvement, career advancement, alcohol use or tobacco consumption.
“The project […] seeks to consolidate a comprehensive approach that combines prevention, education, awareness, assistance and institutional cooperation,”
The legislative effort arrives amid ongoing debate over online betting regulation, following earlier lower-house approval of related gambling reform measures and Senate discussions on multiple proposals.
Source:
“The Government sent to the Senate a comprehensive bill against gambling addiction and illegal online betting”, parlamentario.com, May 25, 2026
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