In Argentina, the province of San Juan faces a growing problem: the proliferation of illegal online gambling platforms that operate without any type of state control and allow unrestricted access to minors. Given this scenario, the Caja de Acción Social (CAS) of San Juan is carrying out awareness actions and is awaiting the regulation of a provincial law that will allow for a more forceful response to the phenomenon.
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Illegal online gambling, a threat without borders or age controls
Unlike authorized physical establishments, where the entry of minors is expressly prohibited, illegal online betting platforms do not apply any type of identity verification or age restriction. Anyone with access to a connected device can register and start betting without anyone preventing it.
Juan Pablo Medina, president of the CAS, pointed out that this situation represents a fundamental difference compared to regulated in-person gambling: while physical rooms apply strict controls at their doors, illegal sites operate in a space where state supervision is practically non-existent.
The official also stressed that gambling does not constitute a reliable or sustainable source of income. “It is not a way of working, it is not a constant income, and there are many more possibilities that it will cause you harm,” he warned, referring especially to the younger sectors of the population, who tend to be more vulnerable to messages that associate betting with quick and easy profits.
Why minors are the focus of concern
The participation of children and adolescents in online betting platforms is a trend that has been growing throughout Argentina. In San Juan, the CAS identified this phenomenon as a priority and began working on communication strategies specifically aimed at young people, with the goal of informing them about the real risks involved in compulsive gambling from an early age.
Gambling addiction in adolescents can lead to serious consequences for mental health, school performance, and the family environment. The ease of access from mobile devices, the permanent availability of these platforms and the absence of controls make illegal online gambling an especially dangerous territory for those who have not yet developed tools to manage impulses and economic risks.
The law exists, but it has not yet been regulated
San Juan has an Online Gambling Regulation Law, enacted with the purpose of combating illegal platforms, promoting responsible gambling practices, and protecting the most vulnerable sectors. However, more than a year after its legislative approval, the law has still not been regulated, which prevents its effective application.
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The CAS reported that the draft regulatory decree has already been approved by the organization’s Board of Directors and is currently under review at the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Treasury, before being sent to the Government House for signature.
The delay in this process has concrete consequences: without regulation, the law cannot be applied and the provincial state lacks the necessary legal tools to act in a coordinated manner against clandestine gambling.
An inter-institutional strategy to pursue illegal platforms
Once the decree is signed, the CAS plans to form joint work teams with the Judiciary and the province’s Security area. Medina highlighted that these institutions have technical and legal resources that the CAS alone does not possess, and which are essential for tracking, identifying, and blocking clandestine gambling sites that operate from San Juan or that attract users in its territory.
Inter-institutional coordination is considered a fundamental pillar of the strategy. Illegal online gambling does not recognize physical borders and, in many cases, platforms operate from foreign jurisdictions, which makes the task of dismantling them even more complex without the support of organizations with broader investigative tools.
San Juan, in line with a national trend
The regulation of online gambling is a debate that has been taking place in various Argentine provinces for several years. Some jurisdictions already have operational regulatory frameworks, while others, such as San Juan, are still going through implementation stages. At the national level, the discussion on how to address illegal online gambling has also gained relevance, especially due to the explosive growth of sports betting and virtual casino platforms.
The pending regulation in San Juan is not just an administrative procedure: it is the missing link so that a public policy designed to protect citizens can, finally, be put into motion.
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