Córdoba, Argentina, to ban iGaming?

Garance Limouzy July 23, 2024

Share it :

SiGMA news

In Córdoba, a province of Argentina, legislators are attempting to repeal the 2021 iGaming legislation.

Regulated in 2021 to fight the black market

In December 2021, Córdoba passed a bill to regulate online casinos, lottery games, and sports betting. Silvia Paleo, the bill’s co-author, explained that the legislation was a pragmatic choice since online gambling already existed in the province and needed regulation. She stated, “The only possible path toward responsible gaming is to have safe gaming, and for that, we must establish clear and concrete guidelines for operators and users.”

Underage gambling

Three years after, seven lawmakers claim that the safeguards are largely insufficient to protect underage and problem gamblers.
They declared, “Almost three years after the law was passed, and eight months after the start of the authorisation of the platforms awarded this multi-million dollar business, the disaster that the approval of this law has caused is evident.”
They also questioned the real motives behind the 2021 market regulation. While at the time it was said that regulation was necessary to prevent illicit gaming, these 7 lawmakers argue that financial incentives were the primary motivator for those who championed the law. “There is no doubt that the revenue-raising purposes had supremacy over what is established in its Article 4, and that is the protection of children and adolescents.”

“If you repeal the law, it will be worse”

Orlando Arduh, co-author of the 2021 law, refuted the arguments of the 7 lawmakers, explaining that underage gambling in Córdoba does not occur on licensed iGaming sites. He said, “If the law did not exist, all clandestine websites would function the same or worse. Eighty-four percent of minors who gamble do so on clandestine sites; if you repeal the law, it will be worse.”

Regulatory reforms as a solution

Regulatory reforms could address ongoing concerns. Discussions include stronger identification processes to prevent underage gambling, advertising restrictions, and awareness campaigns.
The province of Buenos Aires in Argentina has decided to stop issuing online casino licenses, as a way to fight underage gambling.