Every February 17 marks International Responsible Gaming Day, a date established worldwide to promote the conscious, informed, and responsible use of gambling, understanding this activity as a form of entertainment that must take place within healthy, legal, and safe limits.

This day seeks to foster reflection and awareness about the importance of self-control, the prevention of problematic behaviors, and the protection of individuals—especially minors—in a context where access to gambling, particularly online gambling, is increasingly immediate and constant.

Until a few years ago, gambling addiction was an issue that affected almost exclusively adults. However, the massive access of young people to mobile devices and the internet has completely changed the landscape. Today, early, constant, and unlimited interaction with technology can lead to an unhealthy relationship: use ceases to be a choice and becomes a necessity, exposing minors to a growing risk of developing addictive behaviors.

Various studies show how certain mechanisms in video games encourage this problematic relationship and contribute to compulsive consumption patterns. Some online games—like illegal betting sites—use dynamics that activate the brain's dopamine circuit. Opening a "loot box" to obtain coins or advance to the next level may sound as harmless as opening a pack of collectible stickers, but it is not. The feeling of immediate reward reinforces gaming behavior, and on these platforms, there are virtually no limits. So-called intermittent rewards are anything but innocent.

In many cases, these same children eventually move from video games to online betting platforms, often to those operating outside the law. This access—without effective barriers and without parental controls—combines immediacy, promises of quick profits, and social media influence, elements that can trigger compulsive gambling patterns.

For this reason, at the City Lottery, we have assumed an unwavering commitment to combat youth gambling addiction, implementing strategies aimed at protecting young people and promoting healthy habits. This February 17, International Responsible Gaming Day, is a timely reminder to reinforce the importance of strengthening this work.

A recent report by the Red Cross reveals that six out of ten adolescents are exposed to online gambling, with initiation occurring at ages 13 or 14, facilitated by the use of virtual wallets via mobile phones. When we compare this data with the research conducted last year by the City Lottery, a concerning gap emerges: although most parents acknowledge being alarmed by the issue, only 4% believe their children are betting, while surveys conducted directly with adolescents show significantly higher figures. The same applies to dialogue: adults believe they are addressing the topic, but young people perceive little real support.

That is why we consider it crucial to raise awareness among families and adolescents themselves about the inherent risks of gambling and the need for a balanced relationship with it. In this context, our campaign "Talking Is Winning", aimed at parents, educators, guardians, families, and the broader community, has become one of our main pillars: it seeks to create spaces for dialogue, promote prevention, and raise awareness through a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach.

We are also carrying out information campaigns in schools, neighborhood clubs, and community centers where educational materials about the risks of gambling addiction and warning signs are distributed. It is essential to reach young people before addiction takes hold. For this reason, we are working on early prevention programs that provide them with tools to make informed decisions and resist excessive gambling.

At the same time, we have advanced joint actions with various areas of the City Government—such as Education, Justice, Human Development, Sports, and Integral Wellbeing—as well as with national agencies, private entities, and third-sector organizations.

In parallel, we have strengthened oversight of regulated operators and are combating illegal betting sites. For us, control and regulation are not optional: they are essential.

Illegal gambling is an urgent issue. From our position, we treat it as an absolute priority: we have blocked more than 2,200 online betting sites that fail to comply with current regulations and allow access to minors; we have filed complaints against more than 110 influencers and public figures who promote them; and we have managed the blocking of social media profiles.

At this point, it is important to highlight the collaborative work of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Gambling (FEJA), led by Prosecutor Juan Rozas, within the City's Public Prosecutor's Office. Having a specialized prosecutor's office streamlines complaints and strengthens the capacity to block illegal platforms.

And on this matter, I want to be clear: we are not seeking to censor content. Our intervention is triggered when an influencer or public figure promotes something illegal that can also cause serious harm to minors. As the City's Head of Government, Jorge Macri, stated: "Children and betting—no". Under no circumstances.

Our work is not limited to combating illegality: we also monitor and strictly enforce compliance with protocols on the platforms we regulate, such as biometric validation, betting limits, self-exclusion for individuals with gambling problems, and parental control tools, among others. The objective is to guarantee a safe environment that prevents minors from accessing gambling.

But none of this is enough if we do not talk to our children. Technology advances quickly, and illegal sites proliferate even faster. Therefore, in 2026 we will continue to deepen the path we have begun, with an open invitation to join efforts among all lotteries in the country and society as a whole, to continue fighting the scourge of youth gambling addiction and raising awareness about the benefits of responsible, safe, and legal gaming.

*Jesús Acevedo has served as President of the City of Buenos Aires Lottery (LOTBA) since December 2023. He is a lawyer specialized in legal, administrative, and institutional matters, with experience in the public sector and in the development of policies related to the regulation and oversight of gambling.