Lawmakers in Argentina's Misiones Province have approved legislation designed to protect minors online, introducing measures to combat gambling-related harm and reduce young people's exposure to betting content.
The legislation provides for education campaigns, early detection protocols and support mechanisms for families and schools across the province. It also sets financial penalties for platforms that fail to comply with restrictions on minors accessing gambling-related content.
Juan Manuel Rodríguez, a representative from Encuentro Misionero who presented the bill, said the law seeks to give "a legal and regulatory framework to everything that corresponds today to digital environments." He warned that children and adolescents are routinely exposed to misleading advertising from betting platforms, which can lead to addictive behavior.
The legislator said the law would bring "awareness, prevention and intervention in schools, taking these tools to all parts of Misiones," and would also equip families with resources to identify and address problematic behavior at home. Additional provisions include permanent public information campaigns, assistance hotlines and training programs for professionals working with young people.
Rodríguez noted the law also targets financial access pathways to gambling, stating: "Today any young person has access to a social network and to digital wallets. From that point of view, we must create laws to put an end to scams and new cases of gambling addiction in the province."
The legislation builds on a series of responsible gambling initiatives already underway in Misiones. In recent months, the provincial lottery's Responsible Gambling Program has expanded prevention efforts across schools, including teacher training sessions focused on identifying gambling-related risks among adolescents.
The regulator has also become the first provincial lottery in Argentina to require AI-based monitoring tools capable of detecting potential signs of problem gambling in real time, while partnering with educational organizations to promote awareness and responsible digital behavior.
The law also establishes protocols to address risks associated with viral online challenges and other practices circulating on social media
