Buenos Aires City has introduced a prohibition preventing people registered as delinquent child support debtors from using online gambling platforms authorized by Lotería de la Ciudad (LOTBA).
The measure implements legislation approved by the Buenos Aires City Legislature in August and adds Article 17 bis to Law No. 269. It prevents people listed in the Public Registry of Delinquent Alimony Payers (RPAM) from opening or maintaining gambling accounts or making deposits, bets and withdrawals.
Licensed operators must automatically check the RPAM in real time before registering a customer. Existing accounts must be suspended if the holder appears on the registry, with operators required to notify the RPAM and the relevant City judicial authority.
Operators that fail to carry out the checks can face sanctions under gambling regulations, concession terms and the City's Offenses Regime.
The legislation also introduces provisions governing the automated exchange of information. Checks are limited to confirming whether an individual appears on the registry, while information cannot be retained for commercial purposes or customer profiling.
The RPAM currently contains 13,500 debtors from Buenos Aires City and 14 provinces that have agreements with the City. Registered individuals already face several restrictions, including limitations involving Banco Ciudad financial products and driving licenses.
The gambling restriction follows the City's extension of RPAM controls into football and mass cultural events. A procedure published in August established checks for registered debtors at those events, building on provisions already incorporated into Law No. 269.
The change also comes amid wider scrutiny of online gambling in Argentina. Gambling remains regulated at jurisdictional level, with 20 of the country's 24 jurisdictions operating regulated online gambling frameworks as of June 2026.
At national level, the Government submitted legislation in May aimed at strengthening protections for minors and regulating online gambling advertising.
LOTBA President Jesús Acevedo said: "Anyone who owes child support has an obligation to fulfill, and it is inappropriate for them to allocate resources to gambling."
In August, the Buenos Aires City Legislature approved the underlying legislation by 43 votes to 14, introducing the prohibition on registered child support debtors opening or maintaining online gambling accounts.
The law, authored by legislator Leandro Santoro, also established the requirement for operators to conduct automated real-time checks against the debtor registry.
Earlier this month, Buenos Aires Province lawmaker Romina Braga questioned Governor Axel Kicillof's approach to problem gambling ahead of legislative debate on measures concerning minors, advertising and online betting.
Buenos Aires City said 284 registered child support debtors have already been prevented from entering football stadiums and mass events through its existing enforcement procedures
