Buenos Aires Blocks Online Betting for Child-Support Debtors

Argentina.- 22 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The City of Buenos Aires has begun enforcing a new restriction preventing people registered in the Public Register of Child-Support Debtors, RPAM, from using online gaming platforms authorised by Lotería de la Ciudad, LOTBA.

The measure covers account creation and maintenance as well as deposits, bets and withdrawals.

Law Approved by the Legislature

The restriction follows legislation previously approved by the Buenos Aires City Legislature and now implemented by the city government.

Its stated purpose is to add online gambling to the range of restrictions applicable to people formally registered for failing to meet child-support obligations.

Activities Prohibited

Individuals listed in RPAM will not be allowed to:

  • Open new gaming accounts.
  • Maintain active accounts.
  • Make deposits.
  • Place bets.
  • Withdraw funds.

The restriction applies to regulated platforms authorised by LOTBA.

Gaming Products Covered

The measure is not limited to sports betting.

It includes:

  • Games of chance.
  • Games of skill.
  • Online betting.
  • Other internet-based gaming products administered or authorised by LOTBA.

The restriction therefore covers the wider regulated online gaming ecosystem in Buenos Aires.

Automated RPAM Checks

A central part of implementation is the connection between licensed operators and the Public Register of Child-Support Debtors.

Companies must check RPAM automatically and in real time before approving a new user account.

Existing Accounts Must Be Suspended

The obligation also applies to existing customers.

If an operator identifies an active account belonging to somebody listed in RPAM, it must suspend that account immediately.

The requirement therefore extends beyond customer onboarding.

Reporting to Authorities

After identifying an affected account, the operator must notify both the Register and the Buenos Aires City justice authorities.

This creates an additional reporting obligation within operators’ compliance procedures.

Operator Sanctions

Companies that fail to carry out the required checks may face sanctions.

Penalties will be determined under:

  • Existing gaming regulation.
  • Concession conditions.
  • The city’s applicable enforcement regime.

The measure therefore introduces an additional regulatory responsibility for LOTBA-authorised operators.

Around 13,500 People Registered

RPAM currently contains approximately 13,500 registered individuals.

The database includes people registered in Buenos Aires City as well as information received from other jurisdictions.

Agreements With 14 Provinces

Buenos Aires has information-sharing arrangements with 14 Argentine provinces.

These agreements expand the practical reach of the register beyond cases originating exclusively within the city.

Administration of the Register

RPAM is managed by the Buenos Aires City Ministry of Justice.

It records people with formally established child-support arrears and enables the application of restrictions established by law.

Jorge Macri Welcomes the Measure

Buenos Aires City Mayor Jorge Macri said the restriction forms part of the consequences applied to those who fail to meet child-support obligations.

In presenting the policy, he noted that registered debtors already face restrictions on entering stadiums and mass events and said online gambling would now be treated in a similar way.

LOTBA and Child Protection

LOTBA President Jesús Acevedo linked the policy to the protection of children and young people.

The institutional position is that money spent on gambling should not take precedence over outstanding child-support obligations formally recorded by the authorities.

Wider Restrictions Already in Place

The gambling prohibition joins a broader set of limitations affecting people listed as child-support debtors.

Existing restrictions cover areas including:

  • Access to certain mass events.
  • Football stadiums.
  • Some financial products.
  • Administrative procedures.
  • Certain public positions and appointments.

Stadium Enforcement

Buenos Aires had already incorporated RPAM information into controls at stadiums and mass events.

During the period in which those controls have operated, 284 registered debtors had been prevented from entering such events.

Database Integration

The policy illustrates the growing use of government databases within regulated online gambling.

Verification will no longer depend solely on information supplied by the user, with platforms required to cross-check official records directly.

Additional Compliance Requirements

For LOTBA-authorised operators, the measure adds another compliance layer.

Platforms must ensure their systems can:

  • Query the register.
  • Detect matches.
  • Prevent account creation.
  • Suspend existing accounts.
  • Block financial transactions.
  • Report relevant cases.

Industry Context

Online gambling regulation in Buenos Aires increasingly incorporates tools covering identity verification, responsible gambling, protection of minors and restrictions applying to legally defined categories of individuals.

Integration with RPAM now extends that approach to formally recorded child-support obligations.

Next Steps and Impact

The effectiveness of the measure will depend heavily on reliable technological integration between authorised operators and the Public Register of Child-Support Debtors.

LOTBA and Buenos Aires authorities will need to oversee real-time checks and ensure affected accounts are blocked as required.

For licensed operators, the new rule means adapting onboarding, account-management and compliance systems to a restriction that is now part of Buenos Aires City’s mandatory online gambling framework.

Editó: @fonta

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