The Senate of Argentina has resumed negotiations to complete the federal bill designed to strengthen protections against problem gambling and introduce tighter controls on advertising and youth protections.
The initiative, which secured overwhelming preliminary approval in the Chamber of Deputies last November, has since stalled in the upper house, where committees remain divided on its federal application and enforcement.
According to SBC Noticias, the matter is being discussed in a joint plenary session of the Health, General Legislation, and Justice committees, in a last-ditch effort to prevent the bill from losing parliamentary status before the end of the year.
The bill would limit the promotion of gambling, block minors from accessing online platforms and reduce exposure to factors that stimulate gambling addiction. Key measures include:
- A blanket advertising ban across social and traditional media, billboards, sports teams, cultural events, facilities and even players’ clothing.
- The elimination of “welcome bonuses” and a prohibition on gambling sponsorships on sports jerseys. If enforced, clubs such as River Plate and Boca Juniors, as well as broadcasters of the local league, the AFA, and Argentina’s national team, would be required to cancel existing betting partnerships.
- Digital age verification, requiring biometric registration to verify users.
- Obligations on virtual wallets to block access attempts from minors and issue alerts.
- Enforcement tools empowering the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to suspend or block unauthorised operators, and mandating the Central Bank to cut off transactions to illegal sites.
The timetable for Argentina’s legislative calendar is further complicated by the mid-term elections scheduled for 26 October 2025.
SBC Noticias highlighted that traditional media in Argentina received 7.3 billion pesos (circa €5m) in gambling-related spend from brands such as BetWarrior, Betsson, Codere and BetPlay. These companies have become prominent sponsors of the national football team and leading Primera División clubs.
Buenos Aires pushes its own agenda
Beyond the federal discussion, Buenos Aires Senator Diego Garciarena has reintroduced a local proposal to regulate online gambling. Backed by a public petition, the Senator’s plan includes biometric controls, new advertising restrictions.
Garciarena warned: “Online gambling is growing unchecked and current legislation is not enough. National legislation is stuck in the Senate, but the problem is here and now.”
The provincial Senate has already passed the “Comprehensive Gaming Law” in 2024, backed by lottery agencies, but it too faces a lengthy legislative path before enforcement.
Argentine gambling remains fragmented
While ministers had urged for adoption of the bill ahead of October’s municipal elections, delays and committee bottlenecks mean the law could slip into 2026. Observers fear that Argentina risks further regulatory fragmentation, with provinces like Buenos Aires moving forward in the absence of federal rules.
Health bodies continue to warn that the lack of coordinated safeguards could undermine consumer protection and leave youth particularly vulnerable, with gambling addiction, which is increasingly described as a “toxic issue” in Argentine society.
