Tolosa Paz proposes directing ARS5.33bn to problem-gambling prevention

Argentine national deputy Victoria Tolosa Paz, who chairs the Chamber of Deputies committee on addiction prevention and narcotrafficking control, proposed that funds from the online gambling tax go to preventing problem gambling. She made the proposal after an informational meeting on 4 November between that committee and the committee on families, children and youth, which dealt with problem gambling, especially among minors.

Her proposal would allocate about ARS5.33bn to the IACOP programme, the comprehensive plan for addressing problematic consumption, with 25% earmarked for minors. Tolosa Paz said the plan would not raise taxes or touch the revenue shared with the provinces, and would use money that is not currently used.

According to Tolosa Paz, the online gambling tax raised ARS106bn between January and August 2026. She said 5% of that went to ARSAT, the Argentine state telecommunications company, and that its execution was nil. She added that 95% of the gambling tax in the country goes to provincial governments through revenue sharing, and the remainder goes to ARSAT.

Tolosa Paz said the local service works on the problem with its team but lacks the tools to give minors a quick way out of problematic consumption. She also said there is a lack of specific funding.

Tolosa Paz also asked the Senate to advance the bill that seeks to regulate online gambling and prevent risk situations in the sector. She said she wants the bill to be enacted before the end of the year.