Buenos Aires committee schedules debate on online gambling bill
Regulation2 min read
Buenos Aires province’s Chamber of Deputies gambling committee is scheduled to debate a proposed online gambling bill on 12 November, the committee said, as reported. The proposal would restrict advertising, require deposit and session limits, and make platforms contribute 3 per cent of monthly authorised online betting prizes; companies would also pay an amount equal to their spending on advertising and user acquisition. The bill could receive a committee opinion before a joint plenary discussion.
Buenos Aires province’s Chamber of Deputies gambling committee has scheduled a debate on a proposed online gambling law for 12 November, the committee said. Deputies Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto introduced the bill in early October, with measures addressing online gambling, advertising and gambling addiction.
The proposal would require deposit limits and personal, non-transferable accounts. It would limit sessions to 60 continuous minutes and access to three times in a 24-hour period. Real-time facial biometric checks would be required for logging in, withdrawing funds or placing large bets.
Advertising restrictions would prohibit the word ‘game’ and images, expressions or symbols that portray the activity as playful, recreational or entertaining. Companies would pay an amount equal to 100% of their spending on advertising, promotion, sponsorship and other activities intended to acquire new users. Municipalities would receive 70% of the proceeds, with the remaining 30% allocated to the Ministry of Health. Betting platforms would contribute 3% of authorised online betting prizes in the province each month.
The bill would create a specialised office for illegal online betting within the provincial Supreme Court’s prosecutor general’s office, empowered to investigate without a prior complaint.
IPLyC president Gonzalo Atanasof met the committee, and the regulator supported advancing the proposal and requested additional tools to tackle illegal online gambling. Opposition blocs did not oppose the bill at earlier informational meetings, but expressed differing views and proposed changes to specific points. The bill could receive a committee opinion at the meeting before a joint plenary discussion and the next legislative stage.