City of San Rafael Bans Online Gambling on Public Wi-Fi in Government Spaces
The city of San Rafael in Argentina has enacted a new ordinance aimed at limiting youth access to online gambling. The local government has officially approved a regulation that blocks betting platforms on public Wi-Fi networks within government-run spaces to address concerns over youth gambling tendencies.
The ordinance, proposed by Councillor Adrian Reche from the Radical Civic Union, targets various municipal sites—including libraries, digital access points, daycare centers, multipurpose halls, and government offices—that offer free internet services. Its primary goal is to prevent both legal and illegal betting sites from being accessible in these public areas, in an effort to combat gambling addiction among minors.
Councillor Reche explained, “A bill was introduced in the City Council, approved and enacted as an ordinance, aiming to help address a growing problem that is becoming increasingly common among our adolescents.” He emphasized that while technology is an essential educational resource, it also presents risks within the digital landscape. The rise of licensed and unlicensed betting platforms has contributed to the escalation of gambling issues among young people, with potential economic and personal repercussions. San Rafael Wi-Fi Gambling
The ordinance specifies that website blocking will be carried out using IP addresses, a technical method already employed by the provincial education authorities across schools. The city plans to collaborate with the Provincial Institute of Games and Casinos, which maintains current lists of illegal betting sites, to facilitate this process.
Reche added, “The aim is to begin blocking all IP addresses on a weekly basis, or to update them regularly, to prevent access to these sites in locations where the municipal Wi-Fi service is available.” The initiative aligns with broader national efforts to prevent gambling addiction, especially among youth. He contrasted online platforms with traditional casinos, noting that physical gambling venues faced greater social scrutiny and intervention, whereas online gambling allows minors to gamble from virtually anywhere with limited oversight.
The ordinance has received legislative approval and is awaiting formal promulgation by the municipal authorities. Its implementation will not require any additional funding from the city budget. San Rafael Wi-Fi Gambling
