Argentina orders immediate debate on federal ban of gambling advertising

The Chamber of Deputies of Argentina will debate a federal measure on Wednesday, 27 November, to ban all gambling advertising and sponsorships.

The debate has been fast-tracked after “five opposition blocs in Congress” united to support a proposal that prohibits “any form of advertising or sponsorship promoting gaming and betting companies”.

Civic Committees, responsible for creating a federal framework to reduce gambling-related harm and address pathological behaviours, back the measure.

Thee committees of Addiction Prevention, Social Action, Communications, Criminal Legislation, and Families and Youth, are working together to finalise policies for a new federal bill on gambling protections. The bill aims to establish a federal law to overrides existing state regulations on gambling.

The strengthening of underage protections is the central focus of the Civic Committees’ working project on federal gambling regulations.

This summer, Jorge Macri, Chief Governor of Buenos Aires, banned the issuance of new gambling licences. The decision followed reports revealing that 34% of minors in Buenos Aires had engaged in gambling activities by bypassing adult verification checks.

The bill seeks to impose strict rules on gambling promotion. It proposes banning betting company logos on sports jerseys, adverts across digital and traditional media, and welcome bonuses on online gambling platforms. Payment restrictions are also included, such as a ban on using credit systems or social assistance benefit cards for gambling purposes.

The proposal has gained support from parties that are often at odds, including Unión por la Patria, Encuentro Federal, the Civic Coalition, and left-wing factions.

However, the ruling coalition, which includes PRO, La Libertad Avanza, and part of the UCR, favours a less restrictive approach that seeks to exclude sponsorships from being excluded.

Key measures outlined in the bill include:

• Banning betting sponsorships for sports teams and tournaments.
• Prohibiting welcome bonuses for online gambling platforms.
• Restricting payment methods, particularly the use of credit and social assistance funds for gambling.

The minority opinion calls for a broader ban, targeting all forms of gambling advertising and sponsorships without providing detailed guidelines.

The debate must take place before 30 November, when legislators begin a three-month recess. Lawmakers are working to ensure the measure is discussed and voted on in time.

If approved, the law would represent a major change in Argentina’s approach to gambling regulation, addressing addiction and gambling-related harms with a unified national framework.