Santa Fe, Argentina — Provincial officials have sounded the alarm after uncovering that more than 40,000 minors placed bets in illegal casinos within just three months, exposing the growing challenge of unregulated online and underground gambling in Argentina.
According to Daniel Di Lena, director of the Santa Fe Provincial Lottery, digital investigations revealed a surge in unauthorized gaming sites operating across the province, many of which targeted teenagers through social media. “In the last quarter alone, over 40,000 minors engaged in illegal betting,” Di Lena told local media, calling the figure “a wake-up call for regulators and parents alike.”
The findings come amid a broader national crackdown on illegal gambling networks, which have flourished thanks to encrypted payment systems and advertising disguised as influencer content. Authorities estimate that the illegal betting market in Argentina generates over USD 1 billion annually, draining tax revenue and undermining licensed operators.
Santa Fe’s Gaming Authority is now coordinating with the Cybercrime Unit and federal agencies to block unlawful domains and impose stricter age-verification controls. The campaign also includes educational outreach in schools to curb early exposure to gambling apps and sports-betting platforms.
Experts warn that underage participation in gambling can lead to addiction, debt, and long-term behavioral issues. Argentina’s regulators are now urging Congress to update the National Gambling Act, last revised in 2011, to include modern enforcement tools and cross-platform monitoring.
“We’re facing a digital epidemic,” Di Lena said. “If we don’t act quickly, a whole generation could grow up seeing illegal betting as something normal.”
