Buenos Aires: LOTBA holds second series of gambling talks

Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA) has held the second edition of "Conversaciones que Transforman" (Transformative Conversations), bringing together two public figures.

The event took place at the Buenos Aires Innovation Park and was moderated by Jesús Mariano Acevedo, President of LOTBA, who framed the session around the challenge that algorithm-driven platforms pose to youth wellbeing. 

The talk series runs under the "Hablar es Ganar" (To Speak is To Win) campaign, which LOTBA has been developing as a prevention and awareness initiative targeting underage access to illegal online gambling.

Paula Pareto, physician, Olympic gold medalist at Rio 2016 and current VP of the Argentinian Olympic Committee, centered her remarks on sport as a framework for building healthy lifestyles and long-term personal projects. 

She said: "Sport is a good habit because it promotes a healthy lifestyle; the opposite happens with gambling and excessive betting."

Joan Cwaik, author and a leading Latin American voice on emerging technologies, addressed the relationship between algorithms, digital platforms and mental wellbeing. 

He said: "Technology is a very powerful engine of change, but the important thing is knowing how to set limits."

The series launched in December 2025 with its first edition at Usina del Arte, where former Las Leonas captain and eight-time FIH World Player of the Year Luciana Aymar and actor Gastón Pauls spoke about resilience, addiction and the role of open conversation in prevention.

That session was co-organized with the Buenos Aires Secretariat of Sports and drew senior Government figures including Chief of Staff Gabriel Sánchez Zinny. 

Aymar said: "It is essential to set clear rules and limit digital consumption to protect emotional health and maintain focus on what truly matters."

With two editions now held, “Conversaciones que Transforman” is becoming one of the flagship initiatives within LOTBA’s broader youth-focused responsible gambling strategy, which also includes prevention, education and awareness campaigns aimed at addressing gambling addiction among younger audiences.