“Digital gambling addiction has recently been considered the main addiction of the 21st century. Currently there is no legislation aimed at preventing this issue and with this law Entre Ríos will be at the forefront in addressing this issue,” said Justicialist senator Juan Cosso, highlighting the unanimous partial approval of the bill that seeks to prevent online gambling among children and adolescents.
Cosso warned that “the advertising bombardment on young people is constant and permanent. We see it on television, on social networks, with the aggravating factor that it is starred by celebrities or YouTubers who are often the ones that young people follow and admire. And many times it is these people who encourage them to play.”
“In addition to the range of possibilities that this type of game offers, which is not just online roulette, but also football or car racing bets. In addition, many people already have a virtual wallet that allows them to immediately access and transfer money,” the legislator stressed.
In explaining the initiative he created, Cosso clarified: “What we are looking for is not a ban, but to attack this issue from a preventive perspective through a very strong campaign with a cross-cutting approach, involving the General Education Council (CGE), the Ministry of Health, the Provincial Council for Children, Adolescents and Families (COPNAF), the Becario Institute, and the Institute for Financial Aid to Social Action of Entre Ríos (IAFAS) as the implementing authority.” The Secretariat of Communication and Press of the Provincial Government was also incorporated.
Cosso praised the work of the different political forces that make up the Chamber in the commission, “because they made important contributions to the project and supported it from the very beginning.”
The Chamber of Senators of Entre Ríos held this Thursday the ninth Ordinary Session corresponding to the 145th Legislative Period. It was chaired by the first vice president Rafael Cavagna (Nogoyá- Together for Entre Ríos), replacing the vice governor and president of the Senate, Alicia Aluani, who is in charge of the provincial Executive.
The project includes the dissemination of material, training of teachers on the subject, holding of workshops and conferences, coordination with civil society organizations, as well as the detection and referral to the social-health care system in the event of suspected cases of gambling addiction, among other actions.
A preventive campaign is planned to be implemented throughout the provincial territory, aimed at children and adolescents, and accompaniment to their family group and/or emotional environment, on the risks of online betting.
The preventive campaign must include, as a minimum, the following actions:
a) Pedagogical activities in educational, cultural and sports establishments at all levels, aimed at providing content to recognize the problem of addictions as a disease and a process determined by historical, socio-economic, cultural, biological and psychological components;
b) Dissemination of material highlighting the potential harmful effects of online gambling;
c) Educate children and adolescents about the risks of online gambling, the importance of making informed financial decisions and the responsible exercise of digital citizenship;
d) Teacher training in the educational, cultural and sports fields, as well as for family groups and/or emotional environment, on the subject of comprehensive education on addictions and problematic consumption;
e) Holding conferences and workshops in educational, cultural and sports establishments with the participation of professionals and experts in addictions and mental health, including family groups and/or the emotional environment of children and adolescents;
f) Articulation and collaboration with civil society organizations specialized in the prevention and treatment of pathological gambling, and in sports and cultural institutions where children and adolescents attend and participate;
g) Detection and referral to the socio-health care system in the event of alleged cases of pathological gambling in educational, cultural and sports establishments, in coordination with the Ministry of Health of Entre Ríos;
h) Promotion of healthy alternative and recreational activities for boys, girls and adolescents and their family groups and/or emotional environment, promoting the development of skills and participation in social, cultural and sports activities.
In establishing the minimum contents of the preventive campaign, the implementing authority will promote coordination with the General Council of Education, the Ministry of Human Development, the Ministry of Health, the Provincial Council for Children, Adolescents and the Family, and the Provincial Scholarship Autonomous Institute, or the organizations that replace them in the future.
The implementing authority, together with the Secretariat of Communication and Press, or the body that replaces it in the future, will disseminate the contents of the Preventive Campaign in mass media, digital networks and virtual platforms, with the aim of raising awareness among children and adolescents, as well as their family groups and/or emotional environment, about the potential harmful effects of online gambling on mental health.
These dissemination actions will include the communication and assistance channels available at the provincial level.
The expenses required to comply with the provisions of this law must be met with the resources allocated for this purpose by the budget law for the jurisdiction of the enforcement authority.
The Executive Branch is authorized to make the corresponding budget adjustments for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this law in the year of its approval.
