Tucumán Bill Seeks Ban on Online Gambling and Betting

A new bill introduced in Tucumán, Argentina, proposes a complete ban on online gambling and sports betting across the province. Alfredo Toscano, second vice president of the Tucumán Legislature, said action is needed to protect public health and address the growing digital accessibility of gambling.

The proposal would ban the operation and advertising of online gambling services, including mobile applications and other digital platforms. Toscano argued that traditional casinos were once limited by their physical locations, requiring people to travel to access them, while online gambling has removed those barriers.

“The healthiest thing is to go back to having gambling behind a door. What we had before with the casino which had a physical limitation and required people to travel to play. That was a limitation that prevented many people from accessing it,” Toscano said.

Toscano Supports a Complete Ban to Address Gambling Harm

The proposal comes as online gambling has become increasingly accessible through smartphones and digital platforms that can be accessed from almost anywhere. While licensed operators have introduced responsible gambling and player protection measures, illegal operators remain outside the formal regulatory system.

Toscano's proposal would instead prohibit online gambling entirely within Tucumán. It would also restrict related advertising in the media and on social networks, except for advertising displayed on the gambling platforms themselves.

“The easiest thing is to prohibit it. Problem gambling is present throughout society. This is advancing and putting young people especially at risk. With online casinos available on a cellphone, this problem can affect every family, which turns it into a real pandemic,” Toscano stated.

Under the proposed legislation, currently authorised platforms would have 90 days to cease operations in Tucumán. During that transition period, operators would be prohibited from accepting new player registrations or deposits and would be required to return existing customer balances.

Jonathan Gómez Shares His Experience With Gambling

The debate in Tucumán comes as gambling-related issues continue to receive greater public attention. Former Racing and Rosario Central footballer Jonathan Gómez recently spoke publicly about his personal experience with online gambling and sports betting.

A complaint filed by Gómez alleging extortion connected to a debt involving an illegal gambling website was rejected. The former player described the emotional and financial consequences that gambling had on both his personal and professional life.

“It distracts you not only from your work but also from your daily life, it changes your mood, it changes your personality. I lost everything. Today, I lost everything. I am going through a process with my family, which is almost destroyed. I have a process where I don’t know if I will be able to play football again, which is what I love most, and I don’t know whether people will trust me again in the future,” Gómez said.

Gómez also criticised the prosecutor's handling of his case after the investigation was dropped on the grounds that there were no sufficient elements to continue it. He said he had not received a call from the prosecutor during the investigation and questioned why his allegations had not received greater consideration.

The proposed legislation forms part of a broader discussion in Argentina over how authorities should respond to the growing availability of online gambling. If approved, Tucumán would move away from regulating internet gambling and towards a complete prohibition, with concerns surrounding accessibility and public health central to the debate.