Argentina is set to bring in regulation that will ban the advertising of online gaming and sports betting.

On the latest episode of iGaming Daily, Fernando Noodt, Senior Journalist for SBC Noticias, was joined by Lucia Gando, Editor of SBC Noticias, to discuss the bill and what this means for the Argentinian gambling industry. 

On the changes, Lucia said: “The complete bill mixes initiatives that were already presented by legislators from various political parties aiming at reducing the marketing strategies for the industry in the regulated markets of the country. 

“There’s a general debate we’ve been mentioning in the past episodes and in SBC Noticias as well regarding underage internet users participating in online gaming and sports betting platforms. So Argentinian authorities are now warning about a gambling outbreak among the residents with a special focus on teenagers that are looking for easy ways to make money, as they say.

“So with this initiative, all kinds of marketing strategies, [including] advertising in all media platforms and sponsorships in the sports sector, would be completely prohibited.”

However, Lucia also did warn about the example of the Spanish market which brought in a similar ban in 2020 before removing it in 2023.

“We already experienced this ban in Spain,” explained Lucia. 

“It was later removed by a Supreme Court ruling [ruling] that the law was harmful to business, free competition and especially they suggested that it was benefitting the illegal market as operators without licenses were able to offer further bonuses and promote their platforms with no real consequences. While licensed operators were facing greater limitations to develop their business.”

After a short break, Fernando was then joined by Elisa Marcante and Ana Maria Menezes from the SBC Noticias Brasil team to look at the latest stories from the country.

The trio discussed a number of topics including a proposal from Flavio Dino, Minister of the Supreme Federal Court, who has argued that individual prop bets should be banned due to concerns over sporting integrity. 

Ana explained that the suggestion has support from Senator Jorge Kajuru, however, the president of the IBJR, André Gelfi, has warned that the move would “only open space for the illegal market to operate”.

On the proposal, Fernando said: “It’s very interesting to see them going after bets on an individual athlete because it may be addressed to team spots and not betting on one individual footballer but if you go straight to individual athletes, you are also leaving out the boxing markets and tennis. 

“It is actually a unique approach, I’m not sure there’s any other market in the world that has a restriction like this. But if they have the backing of lawmakers, and even President Lula da Silva, I think it’s a very interesting thing to [do].”