Bill Seeks the Protection of Online Gambling Consumers

A Bill was introduced in the Chamber of Deputies of the Province of Buenos Aires, seeking to establish a regulatory framework to protect consumers of online gambling and betting services in the province. The Bill outlines various obligations and restrictions for service providers, covering both digital platforms and other gambling modalities.

According to the it, providers must offer consumers clear, precise, and comprehensive information regarding the type of game, rules, odds of winning, and other relevant information on the operation of the game. In the case of platforms and applications, access to information and contracts must be made easy, visible, and highlighted upon the user's first entry.

Another important provision is the mandatory inclusion of a prevention warning, which must be displayed prominently when accessing the platform and repeated every 20 minutes during gameplay.

Additionally, the Bill requires providers to implement mechanisms that prevents minors, incapacitated individuals, or persons registered in the Self-Exclusion Registry created through Law 15131 to access and transfer money. It also proposes the obligation to use biometric recognition or authentication systems to verify the identity of consumers and to establish automatic time and spending limits for bets. Consumers are expected to receive alerts about losses, wins, and the duration of their play.

Regarding advertising, the Bill imposes significant restrictions, prohibiting advertisements in media accessible to minors, the use of celebrities that may suggest gambling leads to social success, and the promotion of events subject to betting. Furthermore, the Bill regulates preventive measures from competent gambling and betting regulatory bodies, as well as the prohibition of offering credit or financial assistance by gambling or betting operators. The Bill also includes preventive measures to enable competent authorities to order ceasing illegal advertising and sanctioning companies under Law 13133.

Finally, the Bill proposes creating a Provincial Gambling Commission, composed of various provincial entities, to oversee compliance with the regulations and promote public policies for responsible gambling.

The progress of this Bill could have a significant impact on the regulation and operation of the gambling industry in the Province of Buenos Aires.