“Soy de los que piensa que el que empieza a jugar y a apostar es porque la primera vez gana,” said Gonzalo, describing a digital betting habit that accumulated six-figure losses across sports ranging from football to badminton, Tiempo Argentino reported.
Online gambling addiction among adolescents and adults has triggered severe economic distress and mental health challenges across Argentina. A December 2025 study by the Argentine Red Cross Humanitarian Observatory revealed that 60% of teenagers are exposed to online betting platforms.
Minors typically encounter gambling between the ages of 13 and 14, with participation deepening around 17 or 18. The research noted a gender gap favoring males, while 53% of surveyed youth reported gambling simply to secure quick money.
Promotional bonuses and platform incentives drive 44% of teen participation. Between 71% and 79% of adolescents encountered digital betting advertisements or promotional content, according to the humanitarian study.
World Cup Betting Surge
Walter Martello, responsible of the Ombudsman’s Office Observatory of Addictions and Problematic Consumptions in Buenos Aires Province, tracked a 6,200% increase in betting-related web searches during the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
Overall search interest for online gambling rose 350% during the tournament. Queries for high-payout games climbed by the same margin, reflecting an economic drive for quick cash amid financial crisis.
Brand recognition remains dominated by specific operators. A 2025 joint study by UNESCO and UNICEF found Betsson is recognized by 74% of users familiar with online betting, followed by Betano at 44% and Bet365 at 43%.
Lesser-known operators such as Bplay, Bwin, and Codere registered awareness levels between 24% and 29%. Débora Blanca, a psychologist specializing in gambling addiction and director of Lazos en Juego, told Tiempo Argentino that digital ludopathy consultations are expanding rapidly.
Vulnerable Demographics
“El problema viene en aumento y no ha parado de crecer,” Blanca told Tiempo Argentino, noting that treatment requests now extend beyond adolescent males to older adults and women experiencing digital gambling addiction.
“No hay ludopatía sin deudas, siendo esta una condición sine qua non,” Blanca said, emphasizing that financial crises consistently drive up gambling participation rates.
Martín Romeo, director of the research project Apostar no es un juego, pointed to a broader cultural climate. “A nivel macro existe un clima de época global donde se promueven estereotipos de éxito asociados a ganar dinero rápido y en grandes volúmenes,” Romeo told Tiempo Argentino.
Romeo said that youth in economically vulnerable households gamble at nearly triple the general average as they attempt to resolve household financial strain.
Predatory Lenders Intimidate Minors Using Virtual Wallets and Informal Loans
Minors routinely borrow funds through virtual wallets such as Mercado Pago or access instant loan providers advertised via algorithmic social media feeds.
An unregulated informal network operating via WhatsApp status updates allows minor-age users to load betting credits through independent cashiers. When teenagers exhaust these funds and fail to repay usurious loans, predatory lenders resort to intimidation.
“Cuando los chicos no pueden devolver lo que pidieron porque siguieron apostando, los prestamistas los amenazan, los amedrentan con mensajes espantosos y los escrachan con sus amigos,” Blanca explained regarding the harassment victims face before seeking parental help.
Proposed regulatory interventions include banning daytime betting advertisements, removing shirt sponsorships from football kits, penalizing influencer promotions, blocking illegal sites, and eliminating welcome bonuses.
Lifelong Financial Recovery
Valentino Solda began betting at age 16 and spent six years dealing with the consequences. “La mayoría de los ludópatas arrancan con recursos de uno, hasta que te quedás sin plata y empezás a recurrir a otros medios,” Solda told Tiempo Argentino.
The addiction forces young people to liquidate personal savings and accumulate formal banking debt. Families frequently spend years servicing accumulated loans at the expense of long-term life plans.
“Lo duro de todo esto es que no hay límite,” Solda said. “Una persona puede perder todo. Desde la plata hasta su tiempo, o su vida.”
