In Buenos Aires, in February 2026, the Chamber of Deputies of the province of Buenos Aires created the Commission on Gambling, Lottery, and Prevention of Gambling Addiction. Its purpose was to have a specific space to analyze and rule on projects related to the gaming industry, with a special focus on online betting and the prevention of problematic gambling among young people and adolescents.
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However, by mid-April, the commission has still not been put into operation. The lack of political agreements to define its integration keeps its activity paralyzed and delays the concrete treatment of an issue that, since 2024, has accumulated legislative initiatives without resolution.
As established at the time of its creation, the body will be responsible for the regulation, authorization, control, and supervision of gambling in all its forms, including in-person gaming, online betting, and aspects related to advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
Nine legislative projects await the commission to start operating in Buenos Aires
Faced with the paralysis of the body, legislators from different blocs have again presented and reactivated initiatives so that they are ready to be addressed as soon as the commission begins its activity. The proposals range from comprehensive regulatory frameworks to specific protection measures for minors and vulnerable people.
Legislator Leonardo Moreno proposed a comprehensive regulatory framework for online betting that includes user information obligations, addiction control, advertising regulation, and sanctions for non-compliance, with special emphasis on the protection of children and adolescents.
For his part, legislator Valentín Miranda presented a project that incorporates several measures simultaneously: the prohibition of access for alimentary debtors, the use of digital currencies, real-time biometric validation, and individual player records to prevent access by minors.
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Biometrics, advertising, and education: the central axes of the initiatives
Several of the projects converge on three thematic axes. The first is identity verification through biometric technology: both legislator Diego Garciarena and legislator Romina Braga presented initiatives that require biometric validation and facial recognition in user registration, with real-time controls. Braga also proposes banning the use of credit cards to load balance on betting platforms.
The second axis is advertising regulation. Legislator Carlos Puglelli promoted the prohibition of online betting advertising aimed at minors, with content restrictions and limits on time slots in audiovisual media. Deputy Juan Esper went further and presented a project for a total ban on advertising and promotion of online gaming operators.
The third axis is educational prevention. Deputy Ayelén Rasquetti proposed prevention campaigns in schools about the risks of online betting, with training coordinated with the educational system and mandatory warnings in advertisements. Deputy Alejandra Lordén, along the same lines, proposed the creation of an institutional awareness campaign about the effects of virtual and sports betting.
A free telephone line to support those suffering from problematic gambling
Deputy Silvana Vaccarezza presented a direct assistance proposal: the creation of a free telephone line to provide advice, support, and information to people affected by problematic gambling, focusing on adolescents and their families. The initiative includes psychological assistance and referral to specialized agencies.
The multiplication of projects reflects the urgency that Buenos Aires legislators assign to the issue, although it also exposes a paradox: the same body that created a specific commission to organize the debate has not managed to launch it, leaving all initiatives that depend on it to advance in suspense.
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