Argentina Bill Tightens Action On Illegal Betting And Youth Play

Argentina’s Congress will soon review a broad reform bill meant to increase controls on online betting, with the recognition that problem gambling is a matter of public health. Proposed by President Javier Milei, the plan comes against the backdrop of growing online betting and its rising difficulty to address.

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Illegal Betting In Focus

The bill comes as officials point to a sharp rise in access to online betting through payment apps and smartphones. New data cited by the government shows that more than 1 in 4 high school students said they had gambled with real money in the past year, with online options proving especially popular.

Gambling addiction and the overuse of digital gaming platforms are described in the bill as new challenges that require a more comprehensive approach. Enforcement, prevention, punishment, and awareness all play their role in the package of measures, with illegal operators being the focal point.

Stronger Penalties And Ad Rules

Another key objective will be the closure of the illegal sites themselves and their associated infrastructure. This will include imposing jail terms for those operating such sites for up to six years and fines against any business or individual supporting illegal sites via the processing of payments, advertisement, or tech support services.

Advertisements will come under increased regulation. Promotions for the unlicensed sites will become prohibited across all media, including social networking sites, while those for legal operators will be carefully watched. Gambling will not be able to target youth or portray itself as a method of achieving wealth or social success. Links to tobacco or alcohol imagery would also be prohibited.

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Public Health Measures Expand

The bill also assigns new responsibilities to state agencies. It can be assumed that telecommunication regulatory bodies will block websites containing illegal content. The central bank will also be engaged in stopping all financial transactions associated with unregistered gambling websites. It will also become necessary for financial service providers to develop systems for ensuring proper age verification when dealing with gambling-related transactions.

Public health organizations should play an important role in the general campaign. This project includes conducting educational activities in schools, launching an awareness campaign, and collecting information about the evolution of the gambling problem. Additional funding will be allocated for programs of treatment and support. This step will ensure that the situation is kept under control.

Federal Control Remains In Place

However, the measure is not intended to supersede Argentina’s system of government, which includes allowing the provinces some authority over the regulation of gambling. Rather, it aims to establish coordination, considering the nature of online gambling operations, which can span various jurisdictions and fall outside the scope of local laws.

Approval and implementation of this bill would put Argentina in the ranks of active players in the world of gambling regulation. Until then, the bill highlights the need to take steps towards combating the issue of illegal gambling, while youth safety takes priority.

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Source: Gambling News