Buenos Aires Lawmakers Target Online Gambling in Schools

Buenos Aires Province is stepping up efforts to curb the rise of online gambling among students. The Education Commission of the provincial Chamber of Deputies has merged two separate proposals into a single legislative framework aimed at blocking access to online betting and adult content sites across all schools.

Unified Legislative Action
The initiative, overseen by Deputy Fernanda Díaz of Unión por la Patria, consolidates earlier proposals from Deputies Belén Malaisi (UCR + Cambio Federal) and Martín Rozas (Unión y Libertad). Both lawmakers have emphasized the urgent need to strengthen digital protections in educational environments.

Under the proposed amendment to Article 55 of the Provincial Education Law, the Ministry of Education would be required to implement systems that fully restrict student access to online gambling platforms in both public and private schools.

Malaisi stated, “Compulsive gambling among students has become a growing concern. These platforms encourage addictive behaviour and protective measures are essential to safeguard young people.”

Digital Safety and Collaborative Measures
Rozas’ complementary proposal calls for internet service providers to install filtering mechanisms targeting gambling, online gaming and adult content. The approach promotes collaboration between educators, students and service providers to ensure safe, responsible internet usage within schools.

Rozas added, “Our objective is a secure digital environment where learning comes first. The internet should serve as a tool for education, not a pathway to harmful behaviors.”

Rising Youth Gambling Concerns
The measures come in response to warnings from the Asociación de Institutos de Enseñanza Privada de la Argentina (AIEPA), which reported an increase in gambling-related behaviors among students. The growth of unregulated online betting platforms, social media marketing and digital payment methods has made gambling content more accessible to minors.

Toward a Province-Wide Digital Safety Strategy
If approved, the unified bill would establish a comprehensive provincial strategy for digital safety, potentially serving as a model for other regions in Argentina. It forms part of a broader effort to mitigate the social and psychological impacts of gambling on young people through education, prevention and technology-based controls.

By balancing access to digital tools with protective safeguards, Buenos Aires legislators aim to ensure students can safely navigate the online environment. The proposal is expected to progress to the next legislative stage in the coming weeks, marking a significant step in combating youth exposure to online gambling.