When Calling Gambling “Gaming” Is No Longer Innocent

Argentina.- Argentina February 26 2026 www.zonadeazar.com Every February 17, we commemorate International Responsible Gaming Day. More than just an anniversary, it is an opportunity to pause and review a confusion that has become commonplace in public debate: calling what is actually gambling “gaming.”

It may seem like a minor detail, a semantic discussion. It is not. Language not only describes reality, it shapes it. And when the wrong words are used, the risks are blurred and, sometimes, the problems are trivialized.

Kids play. And that’s okay. It’s necessary.

Play, in its broadest sense, is part of growing up. Playing is learning, sharing, losing, and trying again. It is a formative, social, and essential activity for development.

Gambling, on the other hand, is something else. It introduces a different logic: a commercial logic, with the expectation of profit, the risk of loss, and repetition. Especially in the digital environment, where constant availability and immediacy can encourage compulsive behavior, this difference is not minor. It is structural.

However, in recent years, a narrative has emerged that blurs this line. Advertisements, platforms, and even everyday discourse use the word “gaming” to refer to gambling. This is not a naive mistake. It is a way of softening the message, of normalizing a practice that, without regulation or controls, can cause profound damage.

The data supports this concern. Gambling addiction among children and adolescents is no longer a marginal issue but has become a widespread problem. It is a recognized addiction with real consequences for children’s mental health, school performance, and family life. Naming it clearly does not stigmatize it: it allows it to be addressed.

Under the firm decision of the Head of Government, Jorge Macri, this approach is now a reality in the City of Buenos Aires. The protection of minors from gambling has become a public policy that is at the forefront of what is being done worldwide.

Now, talking about responsible gambling also implies something else: for adults, betting legally, informedly, and in moderation is key to avoiding pathological behavior.

The problem is not only how much is bet, but where, how, and under what conditions. When there are clear rules, effective controls, and self-care tools—such as breaks, self-exclusion, and identity verification—the risk decreases significantly.

At Loteria de la Ciudad, we establish rules, controls, and limits on legal gambling sites to ensure safety. But this is not done alone. It is a joint effort: with licensed operators, with the sector, with other areas of the State, and also with our peers in the provincial lotteries. Through the Association of Lotteries, Quinielas, and State Casinos of Argentina (ALEA), common policies, standards, and actions are coordinated.

Combating illegal gambling is a central part of that effort. Where there is no license, there are no controls or accountability for the damage caused. In the last two years, progress has been made with more than 2,000 website and social media profile blockages, as well as workshops and awareness-raising activities in schools, clubs, and community spaces, reaching tens of thousands of children, teenagers, and families. It is important to highlight the role of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Gambling and Betting (FEJA), headed by Juan Rozas, created within the Public Prosecutor’s Office during this administration, which has brought highly positive results that are, so far, unique in Argentina.

But control alone is not enough. Responsible gaming is also built through dialogue. That is why we are promoting the “Talking is winning” campaign. When the issue is discussed in the family, at school, and in clubs, the risk decreases. When it is put into words, it becomes visible. When it is named correctly, it can be addressed.

Calling things by their name is a form of public responsibility.

Gambling is gambling.

Betting is betting.

Minors and betting, never.

Source: LA NACION

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com