The Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA) has officially launched Responsible Gaming Week, a province‑wide campaign aimed at raising awareness of responsible play, prevention of gambling‑related harms, and promotion of safer participation among adults. The initiative brings together government agencies, regional stakeholders and civil society partners in a concentrated week of activities, educational messages and public engagement.
LOTBA’s Responsible Gaming Week underscores Buenos Aires’ ongoing commitment to integrating safer gaming practices and community education as key components of modern gambling regulation. The move follows broader efforts in the region to strengthen youth protections and address emerging digital risks.
Program Focus: Awareness, Prevention and Dialogue
Responsible Gaming Week activities span seminars, workshops, public talks and digital outreach designed to inform players about the importance of self‑awareness, risk recognition and safe engagement with gaming products. Sessions are targeted at a broad audience, including players, families and frontline professionals, with messages tailored to reducing the likelihood of problematic gambling behaviour.
Central themes of the campaign include:
- Understanding the principles of responsible gambling
- Identifying early warning signs of harmful play
- Promoting self‑exclusion options and support services
- Encouraging open dialogue with family and peers
These components reflect LOTBA’s broader “Juego Seguro” (safe play) strategy, which integrates prevention with enforcement and support tools aimed at reducing player harm across all age groups. LOTBA officials emphasise that responsible gaming requires both individual awareness and institutional support mechanisms, creating an ecosystem where safer play is actively encouraged.
Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
At the launch event, LOTBA management, including key figures involved in public policy and player protection, stressed the importance of collaborative action. Statements shared via social platforms highlighted the human and social dimension of the campaign, advocating that “caring is also prevention” and reinforcing the need to engage communities in open conversations about gaming behaviour and well‑being.
This emphasis on protective environments aligns with ongoing regional efforts that seek to blend public health, education and regulatory oversight. For example, recent initiatives in Buenos Aires have focused on structured approaches to combatting youth gambling addiction, engaging academic institutions and regulators in long‑term preventive programming.
Emerging Focus on Youth and Digital Risks
While Responsible Gaming Week is fundamentally aimed at adult players, LOTBA’s campaign recognises the importance of addressing youth exposure as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy. In neighbouring Brazil, regulators have strengthened age verification requirements and youth access safeguards for online platforms in response to similar concerns about early engagement with gambling‑like content.
This regional context underscores how gambling authorities across Latin America are prioritising protective measures that span education, regulation, and technology‑enabled safeguards.
Public Outreach and Educational Tools
As part of the campaign, LOTBA has deployed a suite of educational materials, including brochures, social media assets, and videos, designed to reach diverse audiences. These resources explain key concepts such as:
- Setting personal limits
- Recognising when play may be risky
- Available support services and helplines
- Tools for self‑exclusion and cooling‑off periods
LOTBA has also partnered with community organisations and treatment providers to ensure that individuals and families have access to tailored support when needed.
Integration with Ongoing Regulatory Framework
Responsible Gaming Week is not a standalone event but part of a continuum of policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening player protection across regulated gambling activity in Buenos Aires. LOTBA’s “Juego Seguro” platform already incorporates responsible gaming best practices into operator requirements and public communications, reinforcing the principle that safer play is integral to a well‑regulated market.
The event also serves as a touchpoint for ongoing dialogue between regulators, operators and civil society, enabling stakeholders to exchange insights and best practices as digital gaming continues to evolve.
Sustaining Awareness Beyond One Week
LOTBA and partner organisations have signalled that Responsible Gaming Week is a launchpad for sustained action, not a one‑off event. Follow‑up activities, workshops and awareness campaigns will be rolled out periodically throughout the year, reinforcing key messages and ensuring that safer play remains a central consideration for players and their families.
The success of this initiative will be measured not only through participation numbers but also through continued engagement with safer gaming principles and increased utilisation of support mechanisms among players.