Lawmakers in Argentina Launch Campaign for iGaming Support

Diego R. Garciarena, a provincial lawmaker representing the Radical Civic Union in Buenos Aires, has launched a public campaign urging citizens to support a proposed bill aimed at regulating the online gambling industry and addressing what he describes as a growing epidemic of child gambling addiction. The move highlights mounting concerns over digital betting’s influence on youth and growing frustration with the pace of legislative action.

Through a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Garciarena shared a digital form inviting Argentine citizens to sign in support of the bill. The form requires a valid National Identity Document number to ensure that only Argentine nationals are able to participate. The petition is intended not just as a show of public backing, but as a strategic response to what Garciarena describes as political gridlock within the Buenos Aires Legislature, where the bill has seen slow progress since being introduced in late 2024.

Key Points

• Diego Garciarena launched a public petition urging Argentine citizens to support a bill aimed at regulating online gambling and preventing child addiction.

• The bill proposes biometric ID checks, stricter licenses, and social media regulation to limit minors’ access to betting platforms.

• Garciarena criticized Governor Axel Kicillof’s administration for inaction, citing rising cases of gambling addiction in schools and calling for immediate legislative response.

“Our bill aims to prevent childhood gambling addiction,” Garciarena wrote in his post. “Online betting is advancing unchecked.” His statement was accompanied by a short video referencing recent domestic news reports that suggest gambling addiction is becoming increasingly visible within schools. The video underscores growing alarm from educators, parents, and civil society groups who warn that digital platforms are reaching children with little oversight or restriction.

The bill proposes a series of measures to regulate the rapidly growing online betting sector. Among them are biometric validation systems to verify users’ identities and restrict minors’ access, enhanced licensing requirements for operators, and tighter regulation of gambling-related content on social media. These measures are designed to close legal and technical gaps that currently allow underage individuals to engage with gambling platforms and promotional offers.

Garciarena has also used the campaign to direct criticism at Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof and his administration. In his public message, he accused the governor of “looking the other way” while online betting expands with limited controls. His criticism reflects a broader concern among reform advocates that political leadership is not responding with sufficient urgency to the social consequences of a largely unregulated online gambling market.

Complicating the issue is Argentina’s fragmented regulatory landscape. The country lacks a unified federal framework for online gambling, leaving its 23 provinces to govern independently. While some jurisdictions have implemented their own systems of licensing and oversight, others remain under-regulated or inconsistently enforced. This decentralized model, critics argue, has allowed for widespread access to online gambling services without comprehensive safeguards—especially for minors.

In recent months, educational organizations such as the Association of Private Schools of Argentina have raised red flags. They argue that children are being exposed to targeted advertising and free betting credits, often without the knowledge of parents or teachers. According to the association, this type of engagement can be addictive, with some students reportedly gambling during school hours or using adult accounts to place bets.

Online betting is advancing unchecked, and our bill aims to prevent childhood gambling addiction before it becomes a national crisis.

The Future & Outlook

Although Garciarena’s bill has garnered some cross-party support, it continues to face delays in the Buenos Aires Legislature. His public petition represents an attempt to break that impasse by putting pressure on lawmakers through demonstrated public interest. Supporters of the bill hope that a groundswell of civic backing will compel the legislature—and potentially the provincial executive—to prioritize the issue before the problem deepens further.

As debates around digital regulation and youth protection grow louder across Argentina, Garciarena’s campaign adds urgency to a conversation that has, until now, moved slowly through institutional channels. Whether the petition will shift the political calculus remains to be seen, but the initiative has brought renewed attention to an issue many say can no longer be ignored.