Buenos Aires pushes to restrict gambling sites in schools

The Education Committee of the Buenos Aires Chamber of Deputies has merged two bills.

The bills are aimed at restricting access to online gambling and adult content websites in schools across Buenos Aires province.

The unified legislation would mandate the use of internet filtering systems in both public and private educational institutions.

The committee, led by Deputy Fernanda Díaz, approved the merger of proposals submitted by legislators Belén Malaisi and Martín Rozas. The consolidated bill now advances through the legislative process.

Malaisi's proposal seeks to amend Article 55 of the Provincial Education Law, requiring the Ministry of Education under Alberto Sileoni to implement mechanisms that permanently block gambling websites across school networks.

Malaisi said: "The problem of compulsive gambling in our schools is a phenomenon that has been increasing to the point that it is necessary to take measures to limit this practice in our young people, which encourages gambling addiction or compulsive gambling."

The initiative comes after authorities from the Association of Private Educational Institutes of Argentina warned this year that gambling addiction is rising considerably in Buenos Aires schools and the issue is becoming normalized among young people.

Rozas' complementary proposal requires educational institutions to demand that internet service providers implement filtering systems. He said: "It seeks to establish a regulatory framework that guarantees responsible and safe use of the internet in educational institutions.

"It is essential to have the participation of teachers, students, the educational community and internet providers in the process of implementing this regulation."

The legislator noted that no specific provincial regulation currently governs internet use in schools, creating disparities in institutional policies. The bill targets content deemed inappropriate for educational settings, including online gaming platforms, adult content and social networks.

A separate unified text addressing modifications to the Gambling Law, awareness programs and technological measures to eliminate underage participation remains pending in the Buenos Aires Legislature.