Argentina Introduces Bill to Prevent Online Gambling Use in Schools

A new legislative initiative in Argentina will provide for the implementation of preventive campaigns at schools concerning gambling and sports betting risks among children and young people. This law was introduced by Senator Beatriz Ávila who decided to develop such preventive measures against problematic gambling among teenagers.

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According to the legislator, educators and schools began to face an expansion of sports betting websites, online casinos, and virtual lotteries among students aged under 18. Ávila referred to statistics of the Ombudsman of Argentina which shows that out of every 100 people, 7 experience gambling issues while Argentina has more than 19 million gambling fans today.

Apart from raising gambling awareness among kids, the bill proposes to create pedagogical classes and training programs aimed at preventing such risky behavior associated with online gambling.

Campaigns against Sports Betting among Young People Will Include Financial Support for Schools

The bill proposes a whole range of preventive strategies and measures against risky gambling among children in schools. Among them are awareness-raising campaigns about digital betting threats, special trainings for educators on problematic gambling, collaboration with non-governmental organizations providing assistance with addictions and mental health.

The legislation suggests establishing systems for identifying and reporting possible cases of problem gambling and transferring individuals with gambling disorders to socio-health services in order to protect and preserve the physical and psychological well-being of students.

An important part of this project concerns finances. According to the proposal put forward by Beatriz Ávila, the funds required to implement preventive measures will be provided thanks to payments from gamblers of up to 1% of the turnover of online betting conducted in the country. Besides, other sources of financing are government budget funds and donations; all money received in this way should be tax-free.

Restrictions on Online Gambling Promotions Continue to Tighten in Argentina

Apart from legislative initiatives aimed at protecting schoolchildren and students from gambling, other laws are also being developed in Argentina which tighten regulations concerning online gambling promotions and advertisements.

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For instance, one of such projects proposed by Deputy Karina Banfi provides for the amendment of Argentina’s laws on comprehensive protection of children and adolescents and audiovisual communication services. This draft bill prohibits gambling advertising for minors on television, radio, outdoor advertising, Internet sites, and on social networks. Besides, it bans the use of sportsmen or other celebrities, cartoon characters, and even child images for advertising by gambling operators.

Also, the project proposes to impose restrictions on messages about how gambling is connected with economic, social, or personal achievements. All institutions, schools, sports clubs are forbidden to promote any actions and statements connecting gambling with achieving recognition and success.

Gambling Restrictions at Football Clubs Become Law in Buenos Aires

As an additional initiative in this direction, a recent draft bill proposed by the senator of Buenos Aires Province, Malena Galmarini, aims to ban the gambling sector from sports sponsorship.

This bill is needed because of the popularity of sponsorship deals between football clubs and gambling operators in Argentina which leads to displaying logos and banners of online betting operators at stadiums and sports centers. For example, gambling operators have sponsorship agreements with Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing Club, San Lorenzo, and Independiente.

This project implies imposing a prohibition on betting logos and brands on sports outfits, imposing restrictions on gambling advertisements in a radius of 100 meters around stadiums and sports complexes, as well as using brand names in the title of stadiums or sports centers.

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Source: SBC Noticias