Santa Cruz Prohibits Online Gambling Advertising

Law 3872 was published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Santa Cruz on September 12, 2024, to prevent, detect, identify, comprehensively address, and eradicate gambling addiction in the educational sector of the province.

The law establishes, among other provisions, the prohibition of any type of direct or indirect advertising across the entire territory of the Province of Santa Cruz aimed at disseminating, promoting, or encouraging the use of means and/or platforms intended for gambling. This prohibition covers advertising through brands, slogans, drawings, logos, symbols, slogans, corporate colors, sounds, music, or any other form of identification or distinction of the brand or company that commercializes gambling activities.

In the event of violation or non-compliance, both the beneficiary platform owner and the owner and/or person responsible for the commercial, industrial, service, or institutional establishment where the publicity or advertising takes place will be held jointly and unlimitedly liable.

Moreover, the law establishes a procedure teachers and/or management staff must follow upon detecting a “gambling addiction” in any student, to ensure that the gambling addiction does not negatively affect their education. The intervention plan to be implemented includes, among other actions, tutoring plans with extracurricular support and guidance, as well as the involvement of civil society organizations and professionals specializing in mental health.

Regarding the enforcement authority, Law 3872 appoints the Provincial Council of Education as the governing body, which will work together with the provincial Ministry of Health and Environment.

Additionally, Law 3872 creates the Provincial Plan for the Prevention of Gambling Addiction in the Educational Sector. This plan aims to implement specific strategies and actions to fight gambling addiction in educational institutions.

This law represents one of the relevant advances in the provinces’ ongoing efforts to prevent child gambling addiction.