The municipal government of Salta, Argentina, has ordered state-owned public transport operator Sociedad Anónima del Estado de Transporte Automotor (SAETA) to remove all gambling and betting advertising from its bus fleet within five days, citing a local ordinance that bans such promotions.
The company must provide proof of compliance or face potential sanctions.
The notice, issued by the city's General Directorate of Visual Spaces, requires SAETA to provide evidence that the advertising has been removed or face sanctions for non-compliance.
The order applies to all advertising, promotion or dissemination related to games of chance, including sports betting and online gambling platforms displayed on the exterior and interior of public buses.
Fabio Miguel Núñez Najle, Secretary of Legal and Technical Affairs at the Municipality of Salta, said: "The decision is framed within the regulations promoted by mayor Emiliano Durand and set out in Ordinance ad referendum No. 16,369, which expressly prohibits the advertising of games of chance and betting. As the enforcing authority, the Municipality has the obligation to ensure compliance with that rule."
The ordinance bans advertisements from promoting, disseminating or publicizing games of chance or betting, including sports and online betting, in public advertising space.
It exempts only games of chance organized by accredited nonprofit institutions whose proceeds go toward social or charitable purposes, provided their advertising is limited to informing the public about the activity.
The municipality said the measure forms part of its efforts to prevent problem gambling and other harmful consumption linked to games of chance and betting.
The order follows public criticism after SAETA's official mobile app, widely used by commuters, including students, to check bus routes and balances, was found to redirect users to online betting platform BetPoncho.
The controversy emerged weeks after Salta's provincial legislature gave preliminary approval to a bill aimed at preventing gambling addiction among children and adolescents.
The ordinance makes an exception for games of chance organized by accredited nonprofit institutions whose proceeds go toward social or charitable causes
