Buenos Aires’ battle against underage gambling

Garance Limouzy July 2, 2024

SiGMA news

Buenos Aires’ battle against underage gambling

Buenos Aires, Argentina, has decided to stop issuing online casino licenses, as a way to fight underage gambling.

In 2020, Buenos Aires regulated the iGaming market. Since then, 11 gambling operators have applied for and obtained licenses from the gambling regulator, LOTBA.

Proliferation of underage gambling

However, despite the regulatory efforts, the authorities have realised that an increasing number of underage residents of Buenos Aires are using online platforms to place bets. Addiction to gambling among minors is now judged as “alarming” by the city’s authorities.

The Chief of Government of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri, has declared that upon meeting with parents and communities, the problem of underage gambling has been brought up repeatedly. He declared: “We are not here to ignore these problems. We confront them head-on, even when we don’t have all the solutions at hand. Our message is clear: not with children.”

Monitoring operators

As a precautionary measure, the city decided to pause issuing of new licenses. Instead, the authorities will put all their efforts into investigating if the currently operating licensed companies have followed the rules correctly. The assessment of these operators’ compliance will determine whether or not these eleven companies are putting enough effort into banning underage Argentinians from using their services, and if their age verification processes are as reliable as they should be.

The decision was announced by the president of the Loteria de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA) and the Chief of Government of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri.

Audits carried out by LOTBA will not only focus on age verification processes but also monitor the implementation of self-exclusion programmes and limits on time, amounts deposited, and losses.

In the fight against underage gambling, one of the most important projects is the improvement of identity validation controls, which authorities have declared as a top priority.

Helping children

To further help children affected by online gambling addiction, authorities have decided to open a programme for minors and their families in the hospital.

Macri stated: “They are not alone. We will accompany them with a team of professionals prepared to assist them. This is not an easy path, but we are determined to work on it as a team: Government, schools, NGOs, clubs and families.”

Other mentioned measures include school’s ability to block access to gambling sites, workshops for minors and families, and various preventive actions.

LOTBA President, Jesús Acevedo explained: “We have already blocked 715 social media profiles and advertisements. We ordered the blocking of 12 websites, we requested the deletion of 9 publications in Mercado Libre and we sent 9 document letters to influencers who advertise unregistered betting sites.”

LOTBA has not yet specified when they will resume issuing application for operators. However, they have not suggested either that only the eleven companies with current valid licenses will be permitted to operate in the future.