Casa Pueblo and the Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora (UNLZ) have launched Caput, an educational video game designed to raise awareness of the risks associated with online gambling among teenagers.
The initiative was created in partnership with the Sustainable Development Laboratory (LabDes), and will be presented to local authorities aiming at expanding its use in schools across the city.
The initiative responds to what those involved describe as a growing and underdiscussed public health problem affecting minors.
Emanuel Herrera, Coordinator at Casa Pueblo, said: "We work on problematic consumption and mental health. We were seeing a lot of gambling addiction cases."
The decision to move forward with Caput came after local researchers reviewed a study that quantified the scale of youth exposure to gambling. Herrera added: "We were struck by a report showing that one in four young people had bet at least once."
The format is deliberate. Rather than relying on traditional prevention materials, the developers opted for an interactive digital experience intended to meet teenagers where they spend most of their time. The game uses narrative mechanics to prompt discussion about how betting platforms operate and what they stand to cost young users.
Herrera also spoke about the timing: with the FIFA World Cup weeks away, gambling advertising through sports figures is at an all-time high in the region. Herrera said: "We're days away from the World Cup and players are selling us beer, hamburgers and betting houses."
The next step for the creators is institutional adoption. If approved by the local council, Caput would become part of the standard school curriculum in Lomas de Zamora, giving it reach beyond a one-off launch.
Argentina has been navigating a difficult regulatory moment around online gambling. Industry sources have warned that minors are currently gambling on mobile devices during school breaks via illegal platforms with no age controls, a context that gives prevention tools like Caput added urgency in the market.
Gambling disorder in Argentina is classified as a behavioral addiction under national mental health guidelines, with treatment protocols that include cognitive-behavioral therapy and referral to self-help groups such as Gamblers Anonymous
