Argentine Red Cross survey finds 60% of teens exposed to online gambling through peers and family

A national study of more than 11,000 secondary students in Argentina has found that six in ten teenagers are directly or indirectly exposed to online gambling, with peers and household members acting as key gateways to betting platforms.

A new federal survey by Argentina’s National Youth Coordination (Coordinación Nacional de Juventud) and the Humanitarian Observatory of the Argentine Red Cross, supported by the Empress Shôken Fund, has put hard numbers on the rise of online gambling among teenagers. The research covered 11,421 students aged 13–18 from 231 schools across 16 provinces, including Buenos Aires, CABA, Córdoba, Santa Fe, Mendoza and several northern and southern regions, making it one of the most comprehensive snapshots to date of adolescent exposure to digital betting in the country.

The findings are stark: 60% of surveyed secondary-school students report direct or indirect exposure to online gambling. Within that group, 16% say they have already placed bets themselves, while around 45% live with or closely interact with people who gamble, underscoring how normalised betting has become in many households. The study also notes that the average age of first contact with betting is around 13–14 years, with frequency increasing sharply from age 17.

Peers play a central role in opening the door to gambling. According to the Red Cross, 57% of adolescents who bet do so under the influence of friends or classmates, while among non-players, 78% say they first heard about online betting through their social circle. The digital ecosystem amplifies that peer pressure: between 71% and 79% of respondents recall seeing advertising for betting platforms on social media and other online channels, and 75% say they want tighter controls on access and marketing aimed at minors.

The report also underlines the emotional and financial impact of online gambling on young people. Among teens who have gambled, 79% recognise the risk of addiction, while around one in eight report having fallen into debt as a result of betting. Frequently mentioned consequences include anxiety and emotional distress, sleep problems and declining academic performance — all warning signs that the Red Cross says demand a coordinated response from schools, families, industry and policymakers.

Argentina has already seen local authorities react to the trend, with municipalities such as General Pico launching school-based prevention programmes after teachers reported students placing bets during class time. The new national survey adds weight to growing calls for stricter age-verification standards, tighter advertising rules and clearer differentiation between licensed and unlicensed platforms. For operators, regulators and payment providers, the message is clear: youth exposure to online gambling is no longer a marginal issue, but a mainstream risk that will increasingly shape debates over licensing conditions, responsible-gaming protocols and enforcement priorities in the Argentine market.