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Bishop Adolfo Uriona of Río Cuarto met with provincial lawmakers to advocate for stronger legislation restricting online gambling and its advertising.
Six provincial legislators attended the meeting: Victoria Busso, Alejandra Ferrero, Ariel Grich, Dante Rossi, Gregorio Hernández Maqueda and Rodrigo Agrelo.
The legislators agreed to address the issue in the provincial legislature.
The Social Pastoral of Córdoba has also criticised current gambling regulations. The organisation called the existing law regulating online gambling “merely a veneer” that requires significant improvement.
Uriona claimed the “avalanche of advertisements are increasing the number of gamblers without considering the consequences this has on public health.”
The bishop expressed concerns about the impact on families and vulnerable populations.
He referenced a recently approved ordinance in the city and called for similar restrictions province-wide.
“The business interests of a few cannot take precedence over protecting the health of our families, which is why we will continue to push the proposals we put forward in 2024 as a contribution to the community,” Uriona said.
The Church views current advertising levels as problematic for public health outcomes. Additionally, the Church has proposed a total ban on gambling advertising as its primary measure.
Additional initiatives include preventive campaigns about gambling risks. The Church wants stricter controls to prevent minors from accessing betting platforms through filters and biometric identification.
Other proposals include blocking gambling promotion in schools entirely.
The Church called for prohibiting payment methods linked to social welfare accounts for gambling purposes. They want illegal gambling websites and related bank accounts shut down.
Harsher penalties for those who enable minors to gamble are part of their recommendations.
The Church also proposed support programs for gambling addiction victims, particularly youth.
They want public organisations like sports clubs banned from promoting online gambling.
The legislative process will determine which proposals become law in Córdoba province.
These measures build on earlier efforts from 2024 that the Church continues advocating.
Provincial legislators now face decisions about implementing these restrictions in upcoming legislative sessions.
If enacted, Córdoba would establish stricter gambling advertising rules similar to other Argentine provinces.
The Church indicated it plans to continue advocating for these measures until they become law.
The meeting represents ongoing efforts by religious organisations to limit gambling advertising reach in Argentina.
The proposals would affect how gambling operators advertise in the province and how they verify customer ages.
Implementation would require coordination between legislative bodies, regulatory agencies, and law enforcement to monitor compliance with new restrictions.
In related gambling regulatory news, the Philippine House of Representatives filed a new bill aimed at creating stronger gambling restrictions to curb young people from accessing online gambling platforms.
