The goal of the project is to ensure public order and eradicate illegal gambling.
Argentina.- The province of San Juan joined other Argentine jurisdictions that already have a law to regulate online gambling in the territory. Yesterday, Thursday, December 12, the Chamber of Deputies of San Juan approved this bill to "ensure public order, eradicate illegal gambling, promote responsible gambling, fight against fraud and prevent substance-free addictive behaviors related to pathological gambling, and protect the rights of children and adolescents under 18 years old."
Following the arguments provided by deputies Franco Aranda and Juan de la Cruz Córdoba, the legislative body unanimously approved the Law aimed at regulating online gambling activities in its various forms. During the debate, deputies Horacio Quiroga, Mario Herrero, Marisa López, and Juan Carlos Quiroga Moyano also spoke.
The approved law is a report from the committees on Legislation and Constitutional Affairs, Health and Disability, and Finance and Budget, referring to three bills that were introduced this year on the same topic.
One, from the Cambia San Juan interblock, creates the Provincial Program for dissemination, awareness, and prevention of the Youth Gambling Addiction disease; another, by the Renewal Front of Franco Aranda, regulates online gambling; and the third, from the Executive Power through message No. 27, on the regulation of online gambling in the province of San Juan.
The text establishes a whole new regulatory framework. Among the highlighted points are the requirements for companies to access licenses that allow them to exploit these bets in a controlled manner by the Provincial Social Action Fund (CAS).
According to information published by Tiempo de San Juan, deputy Juan Córdoba, one of the promoters of the Executive's project, explained that firstly, the project establishes a robust regulatory framework, clearly defining which activities are permitted, including those that violate fundamental rights or are prone to fraud and illegality. "With this regulation, we intend to close the door to the black market of gambling and ensure that each operator acts under strict controls," he declared.
Córdoba detailed that, secondly, the protection of the most vulnerable sectors of society is prioritized: "Through this law, we will create registers of players and self-excluded individuals, mechanisms to verify the identity and age of users, and strategies for education and prevention that will reach schools, families, and the community in general. We will not allow minors or people in vulnerable situations to be exploited or attracted to certain types of activities," he said.
The law also establishes a responsible gambling program that will inform and educate citizens about the risks of pathological gambling and provide assistance to those in need.
"In economic terms, the project also proposes to limit the number of licenses and require transparent public tenders, promoting fair competition and ensuring that the companies operating in our province are solvent and responsible," declared the deputy, who also explained that the revenues from fees and fines will be allocated to finance prevention and treatment programs for gambling addiction, ensuring that the resources generated by this activity are returned to society in a direct and positive manner.
"This law ensures the collaboration between different institutions, including national, provincial, and international bodies, to combat illegal gambling and protect our citizens. This is, without a doubt, a call to firmly regulate online gambling, to protect those who need it most, and to create a controlled and safe environment that minimizes the associated risks," concluded the legislator.
See also: Law on gambling addiction and online gambling in Argentina: the Chamber of Deputies gave half approval to the project with strong restrictions on advertising
Tiempo de San Juan also revealed that, according to the text of the law approved this Thursday, regarding the companies that can be licensees of online gambling in San Juan, it is established that:
The holders can carry out the activities subject to this law, individuals or legal entities, public or private entities, individually or associated, and those who have authorization issued by bodies from other jurisdictions and have signed an agreement with the application authority to carry out the activity in the Province, as determined by the regulations. The Provincial State maintains the power to carry out the activity.
The requirements to be a licensee are as follows and any others determined by the regulations: Legal domicile established in the province of San Juan; Demonstrate technical, economic, financial solvency, and background in the activity of gambling; Be registered in the national, provincial, and municipal tax agencies, as applicable, and in the Single State Suppliers Registry; Have a corporate purpose or activity that is directly related to the regulated activity.
Regarding the impediments, it is established that the following individuals or legal entities cannot be licensees: Persons not enabled according to Law No. 2000-A; The legal entity or its partners, directors, or administrators who have been sanctioned, through a firm administrative resolution for two (2) or more serious infractions, within the last two (2) years, for non-compliance with gambling regulations; Entities and individuals who participate or organize sports events or similar in nature in which bets are made; Individual, partners, directors, or administrators of the legal entity who are registered in the Registry of Delinquent Alimony Debtors of the province of San Juan according to Law No. 648-E.
What are the obligations of the licensees? During the validity period of the license, the holders must comply with the following obligations: 1) Establish a guarantee in the terms, modalities, and amounts that the application authority reglementarily establishes; 2) In the authorized digital portal, they must display on the homepage of the website: The documentation accrediting the license issued by the application authority; The legal age to participate, and The Responsible Gambling Program; 3) Ensure the integrity and security of the games, guaranteeing the correct functioning, confidentiality in communications and of the data of the participants, the participation and transparency of the entire activity; 4) Adequately channel the demand for participation, validating the information provided by the player as established by the regulations, to ensure that their users are not included in the category of excluded individuals; 5) Not grant any kind of loans or mutuals in favor of the players; 6) Actively collaborate with the State in the detection and eradication of illegal gambling and in the prosecution of fraud and criminality; 7) Comply with the provisions established by the application authority within the Responsible Gambling Program, Self-excluded; 8) Comply with the corresponding fiscal obligations; 9) Pay the single payment and the monthly fee corresponding to the license; 10) Verify the unique game account for each player in the relevant registry; 11) Register all transactions of credits and withdrawals in the unique account of the player; 12) Respect and ensure compliance with the laws and regulations in force on money laundering, National Law No. 25.246 and its amendments, in order to prevent and impede the crime of money laundering; 13) Reject the use of virtual wallets belonging to children and adolescents, under eighteen (18) years of age.
The value of the license is a single payment made by the licensee at the time of contracting and is determined by the application authority, which is the Social Action Fund. In addition to this value, the licensee must pay a monthly fee corresponding to the right to organize, operate, exploit, and market the activity of online gambling, during the validity of the contract.
