Researchers at Argentina’s Universidad Nacional de San Luis have launched NoVa+, a free AI-based virtual assistant designed to prevent gambling addiction and problematic online betting among teenagers and adults.
The tool operates anonymously and limits individual sessions to 15 minutes, although schools adopting it as part of institutional prevention programs can obtain an unlimited use license.
The platform functions as a conversational agent, providing information on gambling risks, emotional support, guidance and responsible gambling recommendations. It also displays national and provincial emergency helplines for users seeking further assistance.
Lorena Baigorria, Co-Director of the project, said: "For several years, we have been conducting activities in high schools in the province of San Luis related to addiction and problematic internet use.
We detected an exponential increase in gambling addiction among students, in line with what is happening at the national level, where recent results indicate that 60% of adolescents are exposed to online betting."
She added: "This situation, combined with the fact that students use AI daily to get answers to school assignments and everyday situations, led the psychology research team to raise the question of using AI as a prevention tool."
The initiative brings together researchers from the Psychology and Computer Engineering departments. Eliana González, Co-Director from the Psychology area, said: "We consider this to be an innovative proposal at the local level and in Spanish.
“There are similar tools in English. It is receiving broad reception and interest from diverse sectors, both in education and among those working on gaming platforms."
The development comes as Argentina’s regulated online betting market faces increasing political and social scrutiny regarding youth exposure, advertising practices and responsible gambling safeguards.
The research team is seeking external funding to expand the platform and extend session limits.
The name NoVa+ references the Spanish expression “No va más,” traditionally used in gambling to signal the close of betting, but also commonly understood as a broader way of saying “enough.”
