The Provincial Registry of Self-exclusion has been approved by Chaco, Argentina

During the Ordinary Session No. 10, chaired by Deputy Élida Cuesta, the Legislative Power of the Chaco province approved a bill that aims to prevent and treat pathological gambling within its territory.

Deputy Livio Gutiérrez promoted a norm that establishes mechanisms for preventing and treating pathological gambling or compulsive gambling within the provincial territory. One of these mechanisms is the creation of a Provincial Registry of Self-exclusion, which allows people who have or believe they have a propensity for pathological gambling to voluntarily register.

According to Gutiérrez, this mechanism involves an administrative procedure that does not become judicial but alerts the system. The affected person or their direct relative up to the second degree of consanguinity can raise the need in the Lottery or in the application body to prevent the entrance of the affected person into gambling establishments. Gutiérrez emphasized that the affected person has the right to voluntarily unregister from the Provincial Registry of Self-exclusion, and that the law does not aim to invade jurisdictional functions.

Gutiérrez also noted that current legislation is limited to posters for dissemination and prevention, but more work needs to be done on this issue, especially during economic crises when there is a greater tendency to gamble out of necessity.

“Today, the legislation is limited to posters for dissemination and prevention. But we have to work on this issue, especially in economic crises when there is a greater tendency to gamble and gambling for reasons of necessity.”

Gambling is a matter of public health

The Legislative Power of Chaco defines compulsive gambling as “an addictive disease that results in a loss of control over gambling and games of chance, which dominates an individual’s life to the detriment of their values and social, work, material, and family obligations.” After several reports, it was determined that the Chaco Lottery, in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health, would be the application bodies for addressing this issue.

Deputy Luis Obeid commented that compulsive gambling is a disease and an addiction, and therefore it should not fall under the jurisdiction of the Chaco Lottery. He emphasized that it is a matter of public health, but regulating issues related to people’s private lives is not within their purview. However, they can regulate an individual’s behavior within a casino when it affects their health and their family. This type of law is intended to address the pathological issue, and while they cannot regulate an individual’s behavior in their own home, their family can seek help from the relevant authority.