Buenos Aires lawmaker requests details on youth gambling prevention plan

(AsiaGameHub) –   Buenos Aires provincial deputy Valentín Miranda has called on the government of Axel Kicillof for further details on the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to Combat Problem Gambling Among Adolescents.

Miranda sought information about the current status of the program, who is overseeing it, and how frequently the involved officials convene, following the state’s launch of a campaign to prevent and address online gambling among minors beginning in July 2024.

A provincial representative explained that seven provincial ministries and institutions were brought together under the plan to develop coordinated strategies covering healthcare, education, and enforcement efforts related to youth online gambling across the province, due to rising numbers of adolescents engaging in such activities.

Miranda noted that while there has been strong intergovernmental collaboration, little data remains available nearly two years after the initiative’s start to assess its effectiveness or success. He requested details on surveys, research, public policies, school-based awareness campaigns, and teacher training initiatives concerning gambling-related issues among students.

He also asked for information regarding support services available for young people affected by gambling addiction, including the number of youths who have accessed help and the role families play in prevention and recovery programs.

Valentín Miranda stated:

Our goal is purely collaborative. We recognize that there was consensus around the need to address adolescent gambling addiction, so we are ready to assist in solving this issue. For that reason, we expect a timely response from the executive branch to our questions.

When the prevention plan was first announced, Government Minister Carlos Bianco said it was developed at Governor Kicillof’s direction to protect teenagers and enhance supervision of gambling platforms.

At that time, health authorities also released findings from a June 2024 survey of 434 secondary school students, which revealed that 34% had participated in online gambling at least once.