A judge in Córdoba has warned that online gambling among minors is increasingly surfacing in court cases, calling for earlier intervention from families and communities.
Joaquín Gómez Miralles, a judge handling juvenile, family violence and gender cases in Marcos Juárez, a city in Córdoba, Argentina, said cases linked to adolescent behaviour, including gambling and bullying, are being identified through complaints filed by relatives.
He said: "We need to act in time," adding that certain behaviours can escalate if left unaddressed.
While noting that conditions in Marcos Juárez are not yet critical, the magistrate said such issues reflect broader social dynamics, often linked to national trends and social media exposure. He added that adolescents may not fully understand the consequences of their actions, leading to repeated behaviour.
On gambling, he stated that cases typically emerge after families report unauthorized use of credit cards or other payment methods by minors accessing betting platforms.
He added: "That problem should not be resolved from within the justice system, but within the family."
The court applies restorative justice approaches in cases involving minors, focusing on underlying causes rather than punitive measures. However, Gómez Miralles said the judiciary cannot address the issue alone and called for greater involvement from schools, families and community institutions.
According to recent research by the Argentine Red Cross, around 59% of adolescents cannot distinguish between legal and illegal betting platforms, while 75% report having seen online betting-related advertising.
He added that this is a matter gaining as much visibility as bullying, but that prevention and support frameworks remain limited.
Marcos Juárez is a key agroindustrial hub in southeast Córdoba, with around 30,000 inhabitants and a strong economy linked to agriculture and farm machinery manufacturing
