Argentina’s Senate backs motion to advance online betting and gambling-harm bill
Regulation2 min read
In brief
- Argentina's Senate approved a motion of preference on 29 October to advance a gambling-harm prevention and online betting bill.
- The bill passed the Chamber of Deputies on 27 November 2024 and has not been debated in the Senate.
- It would lose parliamentary status on 30 November if it does not advance before the ordinary period closes.
- Senator Lucía Corpacci requested a joint committee sitting and possible extraordinary sessions.
Argentina's Senate approved by show of hands on 29 October a motion of preference to advance a bill on the prevention of gambling harm and the regulation of online betting, according to the motion as reported. The motion was put forward by Senator Lucía Corpacci. The bill has not been debated in the Senate since the Chamber of Deputies gave it half approval on 27 November 2024.
During the ordinary session, Corpacci asked for the bill to be taken up in a joint sitting of committees and then added to the agenda of extraordinary sessions. The request was made because the ordinary period is due to close on 30 November, when the file would lose its parliamentary status if it has not advanced. The bill has committee opinions from three committees: Health, chaired by Ivanna Arrascaeta; General Legislation, led by Nadia Márquez; and Justice and Criminal Affairs, headed by Gonzalo Guzmán Coraita.
The bill was introduced by Deputy Mónica Frade of the Coalición Cívica. Corpacci referred to her time as chair of the Health Committee and said the initiative should be approached from a health perspective. She also referred to the debate on reform of the Mental Health Law and to a submission by the Comisión Episcopal warning about the effects of online betting among adolescents, and she criticised online betting advertising by sports bodies, framing it as a mental health problem.
A previous motion of preference to advance the bill was presented on 18 September 2025, but the file was not discussed. With the new request, the bill returns to the legislative agenda. Its future depends on the Senate advancing it before the parliamentary deadline or enabling a route for discussion to continue during extraordinary sessions.