Secondary school students in the city of El Calafate, in the Santa Cruz province, have developed a comprehensive prevention initiative aimed at tackling online gambling addiction among adolescents.
The initiative followed local research that identified widespread exposure to betting platforms among teenagers.
The project, titled Game Over, was designed by students from Colegio Secundario N°9 after a survey of 100 adolescents revealed that 40% had engaged in online gambling activities. Among those respondents, 74% said they gambled to earn money, while others cited entertainment (35%), social pressure to appear older (27%) and interest in football (20%).
The findings also showed that 60% of participants used online casino-style games, while 40% placed sports bets.
Team member Francisco Mikulik said he had previously engaged in online betting, even though he is underage, but warned that many peers remain affected. Another student, Mateo Fernández, noted that the issue extends beyond financial losses, impacting mental health, academic performance and family relationships.
The initiative proposes a multi-layered prevention framework combining awareness campaigns, school and municipality-led community activities, and training programs for teachers, healthcare professionals and parents.
It also includes the creation of a 24-hour support hotline, We Bet on You 24 Hours, alongside financial education courses and vocational workshops designed to provide alternative income pathways.
As part of the proposal, students outlined the development of a digital platform called Grab the Shovel, a direct translation of the Argentinian slang expression "agarrar la pala", commonly used to mean getting a legitimate job or working for a living. The platform is intended to connect teenagers seeking formal or informal work with adults requiring services such as gardening, tutoring, pet care and event support, offering income alternatives to online gambling.
The project was presented within the Financial Education Olympics organized by Junior Achievement Argentina and Mercado Pago, in partnership with educational startup Lufindo. The nationwide program involved more than 6,500 students from 309 schools and focused on responsible money management, digital security and financial decision-making.
Bernardo Brugnoli, director of Junior Achievement Argentina, said: "In the final, teams had to apply the knowledge acquired during the program to develop solutions addressing online betting, digital scams and the need to strengthen financial education in schools and households."
The initiative reflects a broader effort to integrate financial education with practical prevention strategies, as schools and youth organizations increasingly seek scalable approaches to address adolescent exposure to online gambling.
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