(AsiaGameHub) –   Buenos Aires Province Senator Malena Galmarini has put forward a legislative proposal aimed at prohibiting online gambling advertisements during sporting events.

The proposed legislation would forbid any form of signage within a 100-meter radius of sports venues, and would also extend to a ban on gambling advertisements featured on sports apparel.

This measure could present significant challenges for prominent football clubs such as Boca Juniors and River Plate, both of which are located in Buenos Aires and currently have sponsorship agreements with Betsson and Codere, respectively.

The primary objective of this bill is to decrease the exposure of the Buenos Aires Province population to gambling, concurrently working to prevent gambling addiction and preserve the social roles of sports clubs as “institutions of community benefit.”

Galmarini emphasized the bill’s importance in safeguarding children, stating: “The goal is not to ban the gambling industry itself, nor its advertising in general terms, but rather to protect a specific and particularly sensitive space: the community sports environment – a setting frequented by children, adolescents and families.”

The penalties for failure to comply

Should it be approved, Galmarini’s bill would designate the Provincial Undersecretariat of Sports as the body responsible for enforcement, tasked with coordinating efforts with the affected sports establishments.

The Provincial Undersecretariat of Sports would undertake these duties in collaboration with the Undersecretariat for Consumer Protection and the Provincial Agency for Childhood and Adolescence.

Municipalities would also be responsible for ensuring adherence to the regulations within their respective areas. In parallel, the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos would offer technical support to operators subject to the ban.

For entities that do not comply, the bill outlines a range of sanctions, starting from formal warnings and escalating to fines between 500 and 50,000 “fine units.” Currently, each fine unit is valued at Arg$2,215 (US$1.59), meaning the maximum penalty could amount to approximately US$79,514.

Furthermore, the Executive Branch would retain the authority to suspend or revoke licenses and permits associated with the advertising activities of operators.

Galmarini elaborated: “The bill seeks to uphold substantial public interests – such as public health and the protection of minors against gambling addiction – and constitutes a proportionate initiative, given that it does not prohibit the activity itself or its advertising in general, but merely removes it from the community sports environment.”

Examples of other nations’ ad bans

Galmarini pointed out that several other countries already implement comparable bans on betting sponsorship within sports.

Sports teams in Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands are prohibited from accepting kit sponsorships from betting companies, although some operators have found ways to circumvent these restrictions.

For instance, in Italy, Inter is sponsored by Betsson’s media division.

Galmarini’s bill specifically details that the ban would apply to sub-brands that are “substantially associated” with operators through elements such as typography or design.