In a letter sent to Vice President Victoria Villarruel, the Episcopal Commission for Social Ministry demanded that the Senate move forward with the debate on the project approved by the Chamber of Deputies last year.
Argentina.- The Episcopal Commission for Social Ministry, through its president, Monsignor Dante Braida, bishop of La Rioja, sent a letter to the Vice President of the Nation, Victoria Villarruel, regarding the project for the prevention of gambling addiction and the regulation of online gambling and betting.
The purpose of the letter is to express, on behalf of the Episcopal Commission and the Social Ministries across the country, support for the bill that was approved by the Chamber of Deputies on November 27, 2024. The text also requests prompt treatment for its enactment as law by the Senate.
The letter was also sent with a copy to all the leaders of the different blocs that make up the Senate so that all parties are aware of the ecclesiastical claim.
«We reaffirm our concern and that of many teachers, families, and political leaders from different party spaces who from various parts of our country convey to us the tremendous damage that the blatant increase in online betting, and compulsive behaviors and gambling addiction mainly in adolescents and young people is causing», the letter states while highlighting the need for a legal framework to combat this situation.
Moreover, according to the Episcopal Commission for Social Ministry, one of the main reasons causing this situation is that «the advertising of betting sites is fostering this addiction» and precisely in the Bill, the advertising of betting houses is regulated, which is why, they understand that it is necessary to advance in the legislation.
In this regard, Article 8 of the majority opinion of the Chamber of Deputies is the point of discussion. This article establishes the modification of Law 26.934, for the prevention and comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the addiction of virtual gambling games in children and adolescents; a comprehensive plan for addressing problematic consumption; the prohibition of advertising for online gambling games; and the limitation of advertising in the transmission of professional football.
Furthermore, the norm prohibits the access of girls, boys, and adolescents under 18 years old to gambling and betting sites, and online sports betting and forecasting platforms.
However, sources close to the national government hinted that they do not agree with this opinion and that, if approved, the Executive Power could opt to veto the law if sanctioned in those terms.
In a letter dated November 14, addressed to the leaders of the majority blocs of the Chamber of Deputies, from the Association of Argentine State Lotteries (ALEA) explained that the project is "manifestly unconstitutional insofar as it promotes an undue encroachment of the Honorable Congress of the Nation over competencies that from the very dawn of the republic have been considered as not delegated to the provinces of the Nation", the letter states.
For the authorities of ALEA, 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, users may 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.
Moreover, they indicated that "the prohibition of advertising limits the possibility of informing about responsible gaming tools, such as self-exclusion programs and help channels".
Furthermore, they added that along with the prohibition of sponsorships to sports entities, it will cause a "lethal combination". "Not only will the public be deprived of information about the existence of responsible gaming tools and assistance channels, but it will also defund entities that in their genesis seek social development", they wrote in the letter.
Also, they explained: "A detailed reading of the content of the project denotes that the information and evidence presented in a timely manner 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 aggravate the situation it intends to contain".
