The initiative took place at the UNO stadium, in the city of La Plata, during the match between Estudiantes and Rosario Central.
Argentina.- On November 20th, in La Plata, Estudiantes de La Plata faced Rosario Central. Before the match started, the ball boys, who are under 18, wore vests with a clear and forceful message: "I do not play." Simultaneously, the Professional Football League displayed signs with the legend "I do not play, I do not bet." Finally, the same message was shown on the screens in the stands and also through the stadium's PA system. The action was organized by bplay, sponsor of the club from La Plata and also of the Professional Football League.
"Unlike registered sites that prohibit minors, clandestine sites accept any user regardless of whether they meet the age limit stipulated by law. The only legal betting houses are those whose domain ends in bet.ar. This ending ensures that the bettor is entering a secure site that also has a series of procedures that prevent access to minors under 18 years old," read the statement explaining the need to continue the awareness campaign to prevent the proliferation of youth gambling.
Guillermo Gabella, Director of Public Affairs at Boldt, owner of bplay, said: "We are convinced that these prevention actions help raise awareness about the importance of keeping kids away from betting and help to understand the dangers of illegal online gambling sites."
The campaign developed at the La Plata stadium also had wide dissemination, in the television broadcast, of slogans aimed at the young audience urging them to stay away from gambling. The Non-Traditional Advertisements (PNTs) also suggested this slogan.
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Football is undoubtedly one of the main channels for promoting and disseminating slogans due to its wide-reaching capacity to various audiences, which is why it is the vehicle chosen by bplay to spread this message. This is complemented by the mid-year choice of Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez as the visible face of the campaign to eradicate youth gambling.
