The ruling party voted against the bill that received half sanction in the Chamber of Deputies.
Argentina.- After the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill on the prevention of gambling addiction and the regulation of online gambling and betting this week, it was revealed that, should the initiative become law in the Senate, the National Government could veto it.
Sources from the government told elDiarioAR that it is planned to veto the law if it is approved in the Upper Chamber. "A veto is coming," sources close to President Javier Milei said about the initiative. It is worth remembering that the law, which presents strong restrictions in advertising matters, was approved on Wednesday, November 27, by 139 affirmative votes. On the other hand, there were 36 negative votes, including those from La Libertad Avanza, and 59 abstentions from the blocks of the UCR, PRO, and MID, which consider that the text incurs an "excess of regulation".
The main point of discussion is centered on Article 8 of the majority opinion which establishes the restrictions that these companies will have throughout the country. According to this article, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of online gambling and betting are prohibited.
It also establishes that platforms and social networks through the internet, information and communication technologies, audiovisual communication, outdoor advertising, in sports clothing, signage in public roads or in private spaces for public use, graphic dissemination media, radio, television, product placement, or any other current or future means of communication that, due to technological advances, may be used for the same purposes are included. This article was approved by 134 against 32 and 34 abstentions from the UCR and PRO.
In a letter dated November 14, addressed to the heads of the majority blocks of the Chamber of Deputies, the Association of State Lotteries of Argentina (ALEA) explained that the project is "manifestly unconstitutional as it promotes an undue encroachment by the Honorable Congress of the Nation over competencies that have been considered as not delegated to the provinces of the Nation since the dawn of the republic," the letter states.
For ALEA authorities, evidence in different countries has shown that prohibiting advertising does not decrease illegal gambling. "On the contrary, this restriction can lead to an increase in access to unauthorized platforms, as reducing the visibility of legal and regulated operators allows users to access sites that operate outside the legal framework. This not only affects the safety of players but also hampers the efforts of regulatory bodies to control the activity," they explained from the association.
Furthermore, they indicated that "the prohibition of advertising limits the possibility of informing about responsible gambling tools, such as self-exclusion programs and help channels."
Moreover, they added that along with the prohibition of sponsorships to sports entities, it will cause a "lethal combination". "Not only will it deprive the public of information about the existence of responsible gambling tools and assistance channels, but it will also defund entities that originally seek social development," they wrote in the letter.
They also explained: "A detailed reading of the content of the project shows that the information and evidence previously presented by ALEA have been disregarded. This generates a very deep concern within ALEA as it notes that the project implies an encroachment on the competencies of ALEA members, while, if approved, it will worsen the situation it intends to contain."
