In Argentina, social networks became one of the most effective channels for the dissemination of clandestine betting platforms. During 2025, dozens of figures with high visibility on digital platforms promoted online gambling sites operating without authorization, exposing themselves to legal consequences and, at the same time, putting their followers at risk, many of whom are minors.
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Given this scenario, the City of Buenos Aires Lottery (LOTBA) adopted a response that combines judicial and educational paths: training those who were reported so that they understand the impact of their actions and actively contribute to reversing the damage generated.
What LOTBA did in the face of the proliferation of illegal gambling on social networks
Faced with the multiplication of cases, LOTBA moved forward with complaints against more than 100 influencers for their alleged participation in the promotion of illegal betting platforms. The Buenos Aires regulatory body identified them as responsible for infringing article 301 bis of the Argentine Penal Code, a rule that specifically sanctions the dissemination of clandestine gambling.
In several of these cases, the Argentine Justice system formalized charges. As part of the agreements reached with the Judiciary of the City of Buenos Aires, some of those involved had to publish warning videos on their own social networks about the risks associated with illegal online gambling, turning their channels into awareness tools.
How the training sessions for influencers were conducted
Within the framework of the Reparation Agreements promoted by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Gambling (FEJA), led by prosecutor Juan Rozas, LOTBA organized two training sessions exclusively for the reported influencers.
More than 40 public figures participated in these training sessions, in which the main risks associated with illegal betting platforms and their direct relationship with problem gambling were addressed, with a special focus on the impact on children and adolescents. The role of LOTBA as a regulatory body in the City of Buenos Aires was also explained, and the importance of promoting a safe, legal, and responsible gambling environment was emphasized.
Why illegal gambling on social networks represents a risk for young people
The link between the promotion of unauthorized platforms and childhood problem gambling is one of the central axes that justified LOTBA’s initiative. Influencers have a direct influence on young audiences and, in many cases, their followers do not have the necessary tools to distinguish between a legal platform and one that operates outside the regulatory framework.
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Illegal platforms are not subject to the controls required by current regulation, which means they do not implement age verification mechanisms, spending limits, or access to help resources for people with problem gambling behaviors. This lack of controls amplifies the risk, especially for users who start betting through recommendations on social networks.
What legal consequences influencers who promote illegal gambling in Argentina face
The application of article 301 bis of the Penal Code marked a turning point in how the country’s Justice system treats the promotion of unauthorized betting platforms. This rule targets not only those who operate illegal sites but also those who disseminate them, making influencers subject to criminal charges regardless of whether they obtained a direct economic benefit.
The Reparation Agreements offered by FEJA represented, in many cases, an alternative to a more extensive judicial process. Through these agreements, influencers took on specific commitments: participating in training sessions and publishing warning content on their own channels. This mechanism seeks to ensure that reparation is not just symbolic but has a real effect on the audiences that originally received the illegal message.
Legal gambling as a prevention tool
One of the central messages of the training sessions was the value of regulated gambling as a counterweight to clandestine gambling. LOTBA maintains that operating within the legal framework is not only a regulatory obligation but also a necessary condition to guarantee safe gambling environments and to protect the most vulnerable sectors of the population.
The initiative sets a precedent regarding how regulatory bodies can respond to the challenges posed by social networks for the control of online gambling. Instead of limiting itself to sanctions, LOTBA opted for a strategy that incorporates education as part of the solution, betting that influencers themselves will become agents of change within their digital communities.
