The Gambling, Lottery and Gambling Addiction Committee of the Buenos Aires Congress has canceled its scheduled meeting as there was no quorum, with not enough voting members present.
Originally scheduled for November 12, the committee was supposed to discuss a proposed law on online betting proposed by the political youth organization La Cámpora.
Deputies Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto, the two main promoters of the bill, took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the postponement. Olivetto wrote: "After four committee meetings on such an urgent issue, today we had a meeting to discuss several projects to combat cybergambling addiction. Only the member Lucia Iañez had announced her absence, the rest had pledged to attend. However, we were unable to reach a quorum as only the member Rober Vazquez attended."
In the post, Olivetto also vented her frustration over the process, stating: "We can't keep putting this off. Every day that passes is another day in which online betting companies continue to operate unregulated."
Deputy Tignanelli also took to social media to echo his colleague and emphasize the importance of looking out for the people of Buenos Aires, despite how it will affect companies.
He wrote: "We know that we are affecting certain interests; we warned that this would not be easy. Next Tuesday, everyone must choose which interests they wish to represent.
"On one side are the people of the province of Buenos Aires; on the other are seven highly powerful, unchecked companies that rake in astronomical profits and are destroying our communities. Gambling is no mere game."
The legislative proposal consists of 64 articles distributed in seven titles. Some of the changes to Buenos Aires' current framework include a limit of 60 continuous minutes per session, stricter restrictions applied to advertising and operators to allocate money to newly established funds.
Now scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, Olivetto and Tignanelli count on the opposition deputies to be present so that the debate will no longer be postponed.
Recently, the province of Chaco looked at banning people listed in the province's child support debtor registry from entering casinos, bingo halls and gaming venues
