Online betting worries Argentine families and specialists ahead of World Cup

As the World Cup kicks off, a wave of anxiety is rising among Argentine parents and specialists over the surge in online gambling among adolescents. Julieta F., a mother of two teenagers, witnessed firsthand how her children's friends were more engrossed in their phones than the match during a recent gathering. She later realized they were not just browsing social media but actively placing online bets.

"It scares me what will happen during this World Cup," Julieta, 39, shared. "We talked to our children about it, and it helped. But with matches every day, I don't know what will happen."

Her concerns are echoed by experts in gambling addiction and technodependency. Débora Blanca, a psychologist and director of Lazos en Juego, warns that the World Cup will be a "very fertile breeding ground for betting." She advises parents to stay alert and urges young people, especially those with a history of gambling problems or a desire to avoid them, to steer clear of situations where group betting is prevalent.

Online betting is illegal for minors in Argentina, yet it thrives on unauthorized websites promoted through social media. A "Kids Online Argentina" study by Unicef and Unesco revealed that 24% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 have gambled online, and over 60% of those aged 9 to 17 know someone who has. The study highlighted this as a "massive practice that advances rapidly and puts basic rights at risk."

Further data from a Cruz Roja Argentina study in late 2025 showed six out of ten Argentine high school students are exposed to gambling, with 16% having bet online, 83% of them via mobile phones. Psychologists report seeing very young patients, some as young as 11, with sports betting problems shortly after the Qatar World Cup, indicating a concerning trend of early-onset addiction.