Balcarce Municipality Passes Annual Youth Gambling Prevention Ordinance
2026-07-24
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Balcarce, a municipality in Buenos Aires Province, has approved an annual problem gambling prevention campaign focused on youth, featuring school workshops and awareness activities each September. The ordinance complements existing provincial efforts, such as the recent 'Activate the alarms' initiative.
The municipal council of Balcarce, located within Buenos Aires Province, has greenlit a recurring problem gambling awareness initiative aimed at minors and young adults.
The newly approved ordinance establishes the annual campaign, “The Most Important Bet Is You” ("La apuesta más importante sos vos"), alongside a dedicated Municipal Week for Problem Gambling and Online Betting Prevention. The legislation was proposed by councillors Gonzalo Scioli and Fara Cunqueiro, with input from Youth Department Director Dolores Cerviño.
Under the measure, activities will take place each year during the third week of September, coinciding with Spring and Student Day, though the local executive branch holds the authority to adjust the dates if required. Planned outreach includes school-based talks and workshops, training sessions for educators and families, media and social media awareness drives, and meetings with mental health professionals. The municipality may also enter into agreements with schools, universities, clubs and other organisations to broaden the campaign's impact.
During debate on the ordinance, Scioli highlighted how problem gambling “enters our homes through a mobile phone,” noting that the issue is no longer confined to traditional casinos or betting halls. Citing UNICEF data, he pointed out that the problem triggers anxiety, debt, social withdrawal, declining academic performance and family disputes, going well beyond mere financial harm. Scioli stressed that the ordinance is not intended to impose bans or new penalties but to prioritise prevention, arguing that “when we talk about mental health, prevention always costs less than repairing the consequences.”
The move comes as Buenos Aires Province intensifies its response to youth gambling. Earlier this year, the provincial lottery rolled out the “Activate the alarms” ("Activá las alertas") campaign, bringing workshops to schools, sports clubs and community organisations to foster early detection and prevention of problem gambling among adolescents.