8 out of 10 adolescents and young people in Argentina accessed online betting sites in the past year or know someone who did, according to a UNICEF report released on World Digital Learning Day.
The survey of 845 adolescents and young people found that 37% admitted accessing betting sites frequently or daily.
The findings underline the scale of exposure to online gambling among minors, as well as the growing role of digital ecosystems in facilitating access. Online betting applications operate through user profiles where funds are deposited from bank accounts or digital wallets to participate in casino-style games, including slots, poker, roulette and sports betting.
Among these, sports betting formats stand out as particularly attractive to younger audiences, turning match-following into a monetized experience.
Besides, according to UNICEF, commercial strategies such as welcome bonuses, promotions and discounts for new users were identified as key drivers of early engagement, lowering perceived risk and encouraging initial interaction with betting platforms. These environments are designed for continuous use, accessible via mobile devices and available 24/7.
Federico Aragona, technology specialist and member of cybersecurity company F5, outlined tools available to mitigate risks. He pointed to parental control software as a first line of defense, enabling the automatic blocking of betting sites and providing activity reports to parents.
Aragona also pointed the need for stronger age verification mechanisms at platform level. He said: “The implementation of artificial intelligence can help detect and block accounts that are being used by minors.”
From an institutional perspective, schools are increasingly incorporating prevention strategies through workshops, talks and dedicated educational materials. He added: “An environment of care and active surveillance within the school is key to preventing and treating gambling addiction.”
He also warned against overreliance on restrictive approaches, advocating instead for a combination of education, supervision and technological controls. This includes open conversations about risks, non-invasive monitoring of app usage and the implementation of parental tools that limit access to betting platforms while preserving general digital use.
Specialists further recommend monitoring behavioral warning signs such as secrecy around mobile devices or sudden mood changes, which may indicate problematic gambling patterns requiring early intervention.
The UNICEF findings are based on responses collected through U-Report, a global digital platform that gathers real-time input from young people to identify behavioral trends and emerging risks
