There are two legislative initiatives in the Chamber of Deputies of the province that will be addressed on Wednesday, March 19.
Argentina.- The Chamber of Deputies of the province of Entre Ríos will resume this week the debate on two projects that aim to regulate online betting games. One, from the libertarian deputy, Carlos Damasco, proposes the creation of a "Provincial Registry of Online Bettors"; another, from the ruling party deputy, Carolina Streitenberger, seeks the regulation of the development and exploitation of gambling and online sports betting or sports forecasting. The initiatives will return to the debate table next Wednesday, March 19.
The Streitenberger project was introduced in October last year and proposes "the regulation of the development and exploitation of gambling and sports betting and/or sports forecasting online and/or in a virtual mode, which are carried out through digital, electronic, computer, telematic, interactive, telecommunications means and/or those that may be developed in the future. It also includes the prevention and comprehensive approach to online gambling addiction."
Furthermore, Streitenberger's initiative proposes that those games that include the realization of physical draws, such as Tombola, Quiniela, and other lottery games, where the use of electronic capture systems only constitutes a means of commercialization, be excluded from the detailed regulation in the project: being governed by the regulations in force in each case.
The text focuses on online gaming and sports betting modalities, but also mentions "loot boxes" from video games. In this regard, it establishes measures to promote "responsible advertising", "control and security measures" on online gaming platforms, and a "registry of people with gambling addiction".
It also included "games or competitions of pure leisure, pastime or recreation that constitute social uses, provided that they do not produce economically assessable transfers, except for the price for the use of the necessary means for their development and when this does not constitute in any way, an economic benefit for the promoter or operators".
Regarding the participation of minors, it urges that "the participation of minors under 18 years of age in such online betting activities, game rooms, or virtual casinos be prohibited". The project proposes that the enforcement authority be the Institute of Financial Assistance for Social Action (IAFAS).
Regarding the project of deputy Carlos Damasco, it was introduced in the Lower Chamber in August 2024 and establishes the creation of a Provincial Registry of Bettors, to ensure that users of online gaming platforms are of legal age. According to the measure, the registry "will operate under the orbit of the IAFAS, who will be in charge of its creation, regulation, implementation, and updating". Additionally, it points out that the provincial state use the tools at its disposal, such as the network of lottery agencies.
