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Argentina also recorded an increase in consultations about compulsive gambling in 2025. The data from the Secretariat of Comprehensive Drug Policies of the Nation (Sedronar) indicates that in 2025, Argentina received a total of 396 consultations through the national helpline service Línea 141. There was a notable increase in the consultations compared to the 311 consultations received in 2024.
It should be noted that this upward trend follows a general trend that was established over the course of the last several years. Indeed, between October 2018 and October 2025, there were a total of 1,033 consultations regarding compulsive gambling with Línea 141. Perhaps most striking was the fact that between 2023 and 2024, calls were 250 percent higher than before. However, that high level of calls was consistent over the course of 2025.
Geographic Distribution of the Consultations
The report provides a detailed listing of the sources of these consultations. The calls were mainly from the Province of Buenos Aires, which accounted for over half of all consultations at 52.8%. Second were the calls from the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, which formed close to 15% of all calls.
Nevertheless, the pattern was not unique to the aforementioned sites. Indeed, in 2025, Córdoba, Mendoza, and Santa Fe provinces also exhibited enhanced activity levels. Specifically, Córdoba achieved the third position in the national ranking of inquiries generated, while Mendoza ranked fourth. Santa Fe claimed a position among the first five sites for the first time, with 4.9% of the total inquiries related to compulsive gambling behaviors.
Online Betting and the Participation of Adolescents
It was stated by officials from Sedronar that in part, the increased growth could be explained by the fact that accessing online betting sites has become easier, particularly via mobile devices. This has altered the profile for people accessing gambling activity.
The case of Débora Blanca, a psychologist specializing in problems related to gambling, highlighted another new trend, which can be considered particularly worrisome: “The emergence of compulsive gambling among adolescents aged 16 to 19 constitutes a new phenomenon.”
Blanca’s evaluation of the situation proved that the new option of online betting had helped introduce gambling to the younger age groups sooner: “Online betting, as it is called, has helped to create earlier exposure and participation by younger age groups.”
Santa Fe Announces Date for Online Betting License Tender
At the same time, the Government of Santa Fe has confirmed that the tender to grant online sports betting licenses will take place on March 3. The Lotería de Santa Fe will carry out the procedure to grant the licenses and will be international in scope.
The regulatory framework has provided for the granting of a license to a number of operators who satisfy the set criteria. The operators who are issued the licenses will be required to pay a minimum charge equivalent to 15% of their monthly gross earnings. The license will be valid for up to ten years, with an extension of an additional two years, depending on the authorities. All these data points demonstrate how the gambling industry in Argentina is a rapidly changing environment with increased Internet accessibility, legislation, and social issues all occurring at the same time.
Source: SBC Noticias
