Argentina’s Health Ministry to Implement Policies Against Problem Gambling

The Health Ministry in Argentina is playing a more active role in tackling problem gambling as the issue has been placed on its public health agenda.

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The government, by Decree 771/2026 (published in the Official Gazette), delegated new powers to the Ministry of Health dealing with the prevention, treatment and wider management of problem gambling.

Health Ministry Gains New Responsibilities

The decree provides that the Ministry of Health will have to develop policies on prevention and treatment of psychoactive substance abuse as well as implement measures concerning problem gambling.

The new duties are not limited to treating individuals with severe gambling-related problems. These include training, research, awareness campaigns and prevention strategies that are part of a “comprehensive approach” to the problem.

The policy is in response to the growing availability of online betting in Argentina. The ease of access to gambling, especially for younger people, due to the introduction of smartphones and other digital forms of payment and virtual wallets, has introduced new difficulties for gambling prevention initiatives.

Problem Gambling Becomes a Public Health Issue

The move by the government is also a sign of its greater understanding of the issue of problem gambling as a public health problem. The issue has been gaining more traction in Argentina in recent months, with the country’s national and provincial governments considering actions against online betting.

Several jurisdictions have enacted and/or proposed measures to limit gambling advertising, to prevent minors from gambling and to increase the effectiveness of prevention measures. The new decree puts the Health Ministry in a more direct role in coordinating the policies relating to these challenges.

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As a result, Decree 771/2026 represents more than an administrative change. It brings prevention, awareness, and research into the Government’s response to problems caused by gambling.

Jonathan Gómez Highlights the Personal Impact

The public discussion has also been bolstered by professional athletes’ cases. An example of this is the case of Jonathan Gómez, an Argentine national footballer who previously played for Racing and Rosario Central, who has come out about his gambling addiction.

Gómez explained that his gambling started in 2020, after his return from Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic. “First of all, I don’t want to deny my problem with gambling. The truth is that the first thing I want to do is accept it and talk about it. Mine started in 2020, when I returned from Brazil. It was during the pandemic […], and it distracts you not only from your work but also from your daily life. It changes your mood, it changes your personality.”

He also spoke on the impact on his family and football career, saying: “I lost everything. Today, I lost everything. I am going through a process with my family, which is almost destroyed. I am going through a process where I don’t know if I will be able to play football again, which is what I love most. I don’t know if people will trust me tomorrow […] My image has been destroyed.”

Prevention Moves Higher on the Policy Agenda

The formal incorporation of problem gambling in the Health Ministry’s duties would increase Argentina’s scope of action beyond merely regulating betting operators, and extend to prevention and public health.

The new framework emphasizes risk assessment to prevent major incidents, and it promotes research, professional training and publicity. As online gambling becomes more of a part of daily digital life, these measures may be a crucial component in how Argentina responds to gambling-related harm.

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Source: SBC Noticias