Argentine Chamber of Deputies Approves Bill to Ban Online Betting Advertising to Protect Children from Gambling Harms

In a significant legislative move, the Chamber of Deputies in Argentina has passed a bill aiming to ban online betting advertising. The decision, taken during a special session on November 27, saw the federal bill approved by a vote of 139 to 36, with 59 deputies abstaining. The bill, which seeks to shield children from the adverse effects of gambling, will now move to the Senate for further consideration. There, the views of various stakeholders, including Argentinian football clubs, will play a role in determining its future progress.

Central to the proposed legislation is Article 8, which stipulates a comprehensive ban on the advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of online betting across all communication platforms. This extends to digital spaces like social media, as well as public outdoor locations such as roads. Furthermore, the article prohibits online gambling operators from sponsoring sports teams or athletes. This ban includes the use of gambling companies’ names to label sports venues like stadiums and training facilities, as well as advertising on signage at such venues.

The proposed restrictions would also limit influencer advertising and disallow testimonials from “athletes, famous people, public figures, or fictional characters.” In addition, the bill proposes a prohibition on welcome bonuses offered by online gambling platforms. Operators would also be required to implement biometric facial identification measures to ensure minors cannot access betting platforms. This move seeks to combat the growing issue of underage gambling.

Despite the stringent measures outlined in Article 8, Article 9 of the bill provides an exception for advertising within gambling halls and authorized lottery sales locations. Such marketing, however, would need to include a cautionary statement: “compulsive gambling is harmful to you and your family.”

The bill is part of an effort to address underage gambling and introduce a more centralized regulatory framework for advertising. Argentina currently has a fragmented system where individual provinces oversee gambling regulations within their territories. This federal legislation seeks to unify and strengthen these efforts. Deputy Mónica Frade emphasized that the bill’s purpose is to establish a “national framework and for the provinces to adhere to this norm,” filling what she described as a “legal vacuum.”

Deputy Silvana Giudici highlighted the necessity of such measures, pointing to alarming statistics. “Of the 14.6 million betting platform users in Argentina, 78% use illegal sites,” she noted. “That is where we must focus, on access by biometrics so that young people cannot access, and on parental control.”

The move has been met with optimism by some lawmakers, who see it as a critical step in addressing societal issues related to gambling. Deputy Rogelio Iparraguirre described the bill’s progress to the Senate as “an important first step” and stressed the importance of addressing broader concerns. “It has to be an opportunity to discuss issues that we have postponed, such as the context in which new technologies emerged and how they have impacted our lives,” Iparraguirre said. “Gambling addiction has overwhelmed the kids, but it is a problem of society.”

As the Senate prepares to deliberate on the bill, the initiative represents a significant stride in Argentina’s efforts to curb underage gambling and mitigate its harmful effects on children and adolescents. The inclusion of biometric safeguards and restrictions on advertising practices underscores the commitment to tackling this pressing issue in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

By fLEXI tEAM