Argentina’s government has submitted legislation to the Senate seeking to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for online gambling, with a focus on protecting minors and fighting illegal betting platforms.
The proposal comes amid rising concern over gambling addiction among young people. Data from Sedronar shows that more than one in four high school students gambled in the past year, particularly through digital platforms.
The bill aims to ban underage gambling access, eliminate unauthorized operators, and treat gambling addiction as a nationwide public health issue. It also recognizes that harmful gambling behaviors can create broader economic, family, and social consequences beyond severe clinical addiction.
The legislation would introduce tougher criminal penalties, including prison sentences of up to six years for illegal operators and up to four years for advertisers, influencers, financial providers, and technology firms assisting such platforms.
The measure also imposes strict advertising controls, banning all promotion of illegal gambling services and limiting how licensed operators market their products, especially to minors.
Regulatory oversight would be expanded across agencies including Enacom, the Central Bank of Argentina, NIC Argentina, and the National Securities Commission to block illegal domains and monitor related transactions.
The proposal further strengthens prevention and treatment initiatives led by Sedronar and the Health Ministry, while encouraging cooperation between national and provincial governments to address the growth of online gambling nationwide.
