Argentinian legislator Claudio Viña has introduced a series of initiatives aimed at curbing underage gambling in San Miguel de Tucumán, a province in the northwest of the country.
The lawmaker warns that betting and gaming are increasingly affecting children and adolescents across the country.
Speaking in support of the proposals, Viña said youth gambling addiction had become a serious social issue.
“Unfortunately, gambling addiction is not a game,” he stated. “It plays with our children, with their innocence, and destroys lives.”
One of the core measures seeks to sever the link between sports and gambling by prohibiting advertising for operators and online casinos on football shirts and inside stadiums.
Viña argued that constant exposure to gambling brands in sporting environments normalizes betting at an early age.
“We believe sport should not be associated with gambling,” he said.
The legislative package also targets online platforms, proposing mandatory biometric verification to prevent access by minors.
According to Viña, existing safeguards are ineffective and allow underage users to bypass controls with ease. “The state has an obligation to guarantee real and effective control mechanisms,” he said.
Another proposal would prevent clubs that receive any type of public funding from signing sponsorship deals with betting or online casino companies.
Viña described it as contradictory for state-supported institutions to promote activities linked to addiction and social harm.
The initiatives come amid a broader debate in Argentina over the role of gambling in public life and the possibility of a national law.
Buenos Aires Lottery has recently implemented specialized training programs focused on tackling illegal gaming activity
