Argentina: Opposition calls for double tax on online gambling in the City of Buenos Aires

A group of legislators of the opposition party Union for the Homeland, led by Juan Manuel Valdés, is promoting a project that seeks to raise taxes on online gambling in the City of Buenos Aires, arguing that this will serve to fight underage gambling.

The initiative was introduced last week in the Buenos Aires Legislature and is also signed by other legislators of the Union for the Homeland block: Matías Lammens, Claudia Neira, Alejandro Grillo, Andrés La Blunda, and Maia Daer.

The project seeks to correct the 2025 budget presented by the Government of Jorge Macri and to double the payment of Gross Income of online gambling companies, which is currently only 6% while casinos pay 12%.

Juan Manuel Valdés

Valdés, together with the other legislators of his party, aims that these funds be used to create a Permanent Program for the Prevention of Cybergambling in the city's schools.

"New technologies transformed our society and allowed activities such as gambling to move to the online environment. But that has a particular impact, and it is only fair that a part of the profits be transferred to mitigate it. The mental health of children is not to be trifled with," he said.

This program, according to its promoters, seeks to educate students about online gambling, its modalities, and its impact. It also proposes to train families, teachers, and educators so that they can identify this problem.

Valdés added: "It is unforgivable that, amid this crisis of juvenile cybergambling, the Government is only thinking about reducing taxes for those who fill their pockets with gambling. Our project demands an increase in the tax rate, and with those funds, to finance an integral and very ambitious plan in all the primary and middle schools of the City. Faced with such a serious problem, we need quick and bold measures."