Argentina Proposes Bill to Ban Betting Advertising in Sports Environments

A newly introduced bill in Argentina intends to ban betting advertising in sports and community events in the Province of Buenos Aires. This initiative, brought forward by provincial senator Malena Galmarini, is meant to prevent “problem gambling behaviors and preserve the social role of clubs as institutions of the common good.”

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This bill puts special emphasis on professional football, noting how betting companies’ presence has grown significantly in recent times. Notably, major football clubs like Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing, Independiente, and San Lorenzo currently have betting sponsorships.

Growth of Betting Companies in Argentine Professional Football

The growing involvement of betting firms in Argentina’s top division is evident. Presently, a total of nine out of the thirty teams in the Primera División have betting or casino sponsorships that appear on their jerseys. Bplay also acts as the official sponsor of Liga Profesional de Fútbol.

Major betting sponsors of the country’s biggest football clubs include Betsson sponsoring Boca Juniors and Racing, Betano sponsoring River Plate, Sportsbet sponsoring Independiente, and Casino de Buenos Aires Online sponsoring San Lorenzo. Others include Rosario Central, Newell’s, Independiente Rivadavia, and Argentinos Juniors.

In response to this trend, the legislation being presented would ban betting logos, names, or identification marks from being featured on football teams’ jerseys.

Ban Extended to Advertising in Stadiums

Beyond banning team sponsorships, the proposed legislation will also ban betting advertising within the vicinity of the stadium. It includes a ban of betting brands in advertising spaces located at a distance of up to 100 meters from sports venues. Also, there shall be a prohibition against using gambling brands to name stadiums or sports complexes.

“The goal here is not to forbid gambling or its advertising, nor its commercial activities generally speaking. But to protect a specific environment: that of community sport, frequented by minors, teenagers and families“, said the author.

Furthermore, the proposal notes the rising numbers of minors in stadiums over the last ten years following restrictions put in place due to security reasons.

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Public Health and the Fight Against Problem Gambling Among Youths

The proposal takes up public health and youth protection as major reasons behind the proposed ban on betting sponsorships. According to the text, exposure to betting advertisements is no longer restricted to communities alone but extends to all aspects of sports with football serving as a major factor.

The exposure to gambling brands is described as being “not limited to neighborhoods but extending across all sports, where professional football plays a leading role in the normalization of gambling as a commonplace behavior among young people.”

Implementation of the Legislation and Enforcement

Should the legislation pass, the Subsecretariat of Sports of the Province of Buenos Aires will serve as the chief implementing agency. This is to work in conjunction with the Subsecretariat of Consumer Protection and the Provincial Agency for Children and Adolescents.

Responsibility for enforcement at the municipal level will lie with the municipal government. Meanwhile, the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos will assist in implementation mainly through providing technical help regarding identifying betting operators subject to the ban.

Penalties range between 500 and 50,000 fine units, estimated at roughly $2,215. Furthermore, the executive provincial government retains powers to revoke or suspend licenses for violations of the law.

As she concludes, the senator says: “The legislation achieves substantial goals such as public health and prevention among children of pathological gambling. This is a proportional legislation because it neither prohibits the activity nor its advertising, but bans its access to the community sports environment.”

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Source: SBC Noticias