Buenos Aires neighborhood clubs back online gambling bill that would fund community sport

Neighborhood sports clubs and civil society groups in Argentina's Buenos Aires Province are backing a comprehensive online gambling bill introduced by lawmakers Facundo Tignanelli and Micaela Olivetto. The proposal would set up a licensing system for operators, tighten advertising rules and add measures against illegal gambling, along with a dedicated funding mechanism for community organizations.

Under the draft, a fund would be managed by the Provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos (IPLyC) and financed by 3% of monthly prizes, donated by authorized casino operators. Of the money collected, 85% would go to a new Provincial Fund for the Development of Public Benefit and Sports Organizations, which would support neighborhood clubs that are up to date with their financial obligations. The remaining 15% would pay for sports development in the province through scholarships for high-performance athletes, covering training, equipment, transportation and accommodation.

The bill was filed in the provincial Chamber of Deputies in early October. The governing party had hoped to accelerate debate and place it on the agenda for the October 20 session, but it was not included. It will have to be taken up in a future session, and committee reports must be submitted before it can be approved.

Club representatives said betting affects families and young people. Pamela Barbero of the CEC Center for Physical Education, which teaches taekwondo and aerial acrobatics, said parents sometimes end up in debt and that betting can disrupt children's participation in sport. Alejandro Gonzalez, secretary of the Oh Do Kwan Association, said betting is not a game and argued the law would protect the mental health of children and adolescents while supporting clubs that receive little assistance. He said some clubs struggle even to pay their electricity bills.

Leandro Hospital, president of Club Ateneo San Martin, said young football fans increasingly bet on events during matches. Patricia Brito of the 25 de Mayo Neighborhood Association said her institution faces basic electricity and gas bills of more than one million pesos, not counting maintenance, which makes it harder to pay for equipment, activities and instructors.

The clubs' support adds a community dimension to the debate over how the province should regulate internet gambling. The funding plan is a main reason neighborhood groups want the bill passed, though legislative hurdles remain.