Argentina – Argentina’s church warns government over online gambling expansion
The Argentine Episcopal Commission has outlined its concerns over the rapid expansion of online gambling in the province of Buenos Aires.
The church via a statement also expressed their unhappiness at the way that the number of casinos, bingo halls and slot machines have proliferated even in the vicinity of poor neighbourhoods. The organisation criticised the increase of lottery betting as well and pointed out that online gambling laws were passed in the province of Buenos Aires last year.
“The Internet is bringing new and increasingly massive forms of game to life”, reads the statement.
The Episcopate, pointed out that they had warned against online gambling last year as “the legalization of online gambling is projected as a problematic, inopportune and harmful for the province.”
According to the church, gambling is a business that moves large amounts of money for the benefit of a few to the detriment of many, especially the poorest “who are often overwhelmed so that they try magical outlets that end up plunging them into greater poverty and distress.”
The group went onto say that additional tax revenue from the industry did not outweigh the negative social impact of an expanded industry.
“It is not enough to associate gaming with the supposed beneficial destiny of some tax charges, but it is about eradicating the culture of chance to replace it with the dignity of work,” the Commission said.
In order to raise money the governor of the Province of Buenos Aires María Eugenia Vidal, who has on many occasions expressed her opposition to gambling on moral grounds, has pushed through online gaming laws. The initiative was included in the 2019 Budget and the Tax Law put before the Legislature by Vidal. A total of 14 companies will contend for the seven online gambling licenses for the province of Buenos Aires which the Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos (IPLyC) will grant to those operators who meet with the requirements established by the rules of the new tender process.
