Senator Lucía Corpacci leads the charge in Argentina’s Senate to resurrect a stalled gambling addiction bill. She chairs the Health Committee, which has spent months debating the proposal alone. Now, three committees will meet jointly: Health, General Legislation, and Justice and Criminal Affairs.
The bill already passed the Chamber of Deputies. But it’s been stuck. Senators from different parties have submitted around 18 separate gambling-related projects. They’re trying to merge everything into one framework.
Why This Bill Faces a December Deadline
Corpacci warned the proposal could lose its parliamentary status by year’s end. That means starting over. The senator said modifications are fine, but not debating it at all isn’t an option.
Multiple proposals from across party lines show there’s agreement on the basics. All focus on prevention, regulation, and protecting consumers. The issue isn’t whether to act—it’s how to combine competing approaches into something workable.
Argentina doesn’t have clear nationwide rules for online gambling. Problem gambling concerns have grown. Local governments like Rosario launched their own prevention programs, but there’s no federal standard yet.
What the Senate Session Will Address
The joint committee meeting will review the main bill plus those 18 other proposals. Each varies in scope. Some focus more on addiction prevention, others on regulating operators.
The goal is consolidating these into a single initiative. That means lawmakers need to agree on which elements make the cut and which get dropped. Online gambling regulation forms the core, but consumer protection measures will be debated too.
Corpacci’s Health Committee handled early discussions. Bringing in Justice and General Legislation committees signals the bill’s moving toward a vote. But senators will need to reconcile different approaches quickly.
How This Shapes Argentina’s Gambling Framework
If passed, the bill would create Argentina’s first nationwide standards for online gambling. Right now, each province handles things differently. Some allow online betting, others don’t. There’s no consistent approach to problem gambling prevention.
The legislation could establish licensing requirements for operators. It would likely mandate responsible gambling tools. Consumer protections would get clearer definitions.
Rosario’s recent prevention program shows local authorities already see the need. A national framework would support these local efforts with consistent rules. Operators would face the same requirements everywhere.
The December deadline adds pressure. Senators who want changes will need to compromise fast. Otherwise, the whole process starts over next year.
