On July 3, 2024, the City of Mendoza announced measures to combat illegal online gambling in cooperation with the Provincial Institute of Gambling and Casinos (IPJyC Mendoza), Protect minors from its effects. The two parties coordinated actions to prevent illegal gambling websites from entering the municipal government offices. The Argentine city of Mendoza and the Provincial Institute of Gambling and Casinos will launch a series of operations to block illegal online gambling platforms.
The city government will block city government facilities (such as gyms, community management centers, health centers), pedestrian streets, etc., based on a list regularly provided by the Provincial Gambling and Casino Research Institute. Accessing these illegal websites on public networks and WiFi services in places, squares and public roads will impose different sanctions based on current legislation and supervision.
"Citizen education is critical in the fight against illegal gambling, but reporting on these sites is equally important," they explained in a joint statement. The Provincial Institute for Gambling and Casino Research provides a fast reporting channel, which involves filling in a form providing the necessary data such as the name of the website and possibly other details.
Mendoza's gambling regulator said: "Combating illegal online gambling is an ongoing challenge that requires cooperation from different actors and a multidisciplinary approach."
In addition, the city of Mendoza has joined a new program to strengthen its fight against online gambling among teenagers.
This move by the city of Mendoza is to raise public awareness and strengthen the fight against illegal online gambling. Recently, the Provincial Gambling and Casino Research Institute convened representatives from the executive, legislative and judicial branches to discuss the issue of online gambling by minors under the age of 18.
Jointly with the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Ministry of Public Finance of the Province of Mendoza, the IPJyC reported more than 1,000 illegal Internet websites or Social media accounts and require blocking of relevant web pages, social media and related bank accounts.
In coordination with the Mendoza Ministry of Education, the WiFi network of schools in Mendoza Province has blocked access to illegal web page URLs or domain names.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Directorate General of Education (DGE), IPJyC is designing a preventive online platform for the public to prevent under-18s Online gambling and illegal gambling among teenagers. Additionally, workshops and trainings are ongoing across the province for administrators, teachers, parents and youth. Finally, awareness-raising advertising campaigns are conducted through the media.
