Salta lawmakers debate gambling ad ban on public property

Salta's Chamber of Deputies has debated a bill that would ban the display, promotion or advertising of casinos, betting shops and online betting platforms on Provincial Government property and vehicles.

The bill, put forward by lawmakers from the ruling Todos por Salta bloc, would ban the provincial state, its agencies, companies and entities with state participation from using public assets to promote gambling-related activities. 

The restriction would also extend to organizations, events and entities that receive provincial public funding, which would have to avoid promoting betting or casino activities in spaces or assets that received state support.

The bill argues the province should maintain consistency between its policies to prevent problematic consumption and its use of public resources, framing it as contradictory for the state to promote prevention while public buildings, official vehicles, stadiums, sports centers or state companies are used to advertise betting.

Under the proposal, entities that violate the restriction would face revocation of state benefits, repayment of funds already received and a temporary ban on accessing new provincial funding.

Business representatives from the licensed gambling sector said any restriction on authorized operators should account for the growth of unlicensed betting platforms, arguing the measure would restrict legal operators while leaving illegal ones unaffected. 

They noted regulated gambling operates under state oversight, including tax and labor obligations and user protection mechanisms such as age verification and self exclusion tools, while illegal platforms operate outside those controls.

The debate took place alongside broader concerns raised by various sectors about the growth of illegal betting in Argentina, including warnings that funds from clandestine gambling activities could enter political financing structures.