TLDR
- Salta’s city council approved an ordinance banning online betting ads on municipal spaces, media, and official channels.
- The ban covers LED screens, street furniture, digital kiosks, official websites, apps, and city social media accounts.
- Non-compliant ads must be removed or changed within 24 business days, and fines will fund gambling prevention programs.
- A study cited by councilor Darío Madile found 24% of Argentine children aged 12 to 17 have gambled online at least once.
- The provincial regulator ENREJA is reviewing two bills after online gambling reached ARS16 billion in July 2026.
The city council of Salta, Argentina, has approved an ordinance that bans the promotion of online betting platforms on municipal spaces and media. The measure was introduced by councilor Darío Madile.
The ban covers both direct and indirect advertising. It applies to properties and platforms that the city owns, manages, or runs under concession.
Privately owned billboards that are not part of municipal assets are not included in the rules.
What the Salta Betting Ad Ban Covers
The restrictions apply to advertising on public property and municipal street furniture. They also cover LED screens, digital kiosks, official websites, apps, and social media accounts.
Other channels that city institutions use to communicate are included as well. The ordinance also bans promotional campaigns and content shared through official city media.
Under the new rules, responsible parties must remove or change advertising that does not comply within 24 business days. The deadline can be adjusted depending on the technical nature of the advertising medium.
Violations will lead to sanctions. These can apply to advertising concessionaires, marketing agencies, and gambling companies.
Madile raised concerns about gambling among minors. He cited a study showing that 24% of Argentine children aged 12 to 17 have gambled online at least once.
He said mobile betting makes gambling easier for young people to access. “When a teenager, when a minor places a bet, they really do it from a cellphone and, in many cases, in private,” he said.
“What we are achieving is that the casino is going to the child,” Madile added.
The ordinance gives the municipal executive power to make agreements with public, academic, and specialized institutions. These partnerships would develop programs on problem gambling and the risks of online betting.
Campaigns must focus on children, teenagers, and their families. Money collected from fines will be used to pay for these programs.
Provincial Regulator Reviews New Betting Bills
At the provincial level, the gaming authority Ente Regulador del Juego de Salta, known as ENREJA, is reviewing two proposed bills. Both aim to strengthen rules for digital betting sites, with a focus on protecting minors.
According to ENREJA, online gambling in the province generated ARS16 billion in July 2026. That was more than the ARS8.583 billion generated through online and land-based gambling in 2025.
Provincial lawmakers have raised concerns about underage betting and illegal bookmakers. These concerns grew after a rise in betting during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
ENREJA President Aníbal Caro spoke to provincial senators about the problems in the sector. He said technology can give vulnerable groups access to illegal gambling.
“They have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by technology to engage in activities that are not appropriate for people of that age,” Caro said.
“Legal gambling does not allow minors to participate, while illegal gambling does,” he added.
The two bills remain under consideration by provincial lawmakers. They are designed to increase oversight of digital betting platforms and address minors’ access to gambling services.
