Free line of the Compulsive Gambling Prevention and Assistance Program — Buenos Aires Province (Spanish-language service)
0800-444-4000Free public service for affected people and families. Source: Compulsive Gambling Prevention and Assistance Program — Buenos Aires Province Lottery (opens in a new tab; external site)
Over-18s only
Betting and games of chance are prohibited for anyone under 18. Licensed operators verify their users' age and identity. If you share devices with minors, use the system's parental controls and never leave sessions open.
Gambling carries financial risk
In games of chance the result depends on luck, and games are designed so that, in the long run, the operator keeps part of what is wagered. A slot's RTP is a theoretical average over a huge number of rounds: it does not predict what will happen in your session.
Bonuses do not remove that risk. Their wagering requirements make you bet an amount several times before you can withdraw, which increases your exposure.
It is entertainment, not a source of income
Only play with money you can afford to lose without affecting your daily life. Gambling is not an investment, not a financial strategy, and not a way to pay debts or make a living.
Don't chase losses
Betting again to win back what you lost is one of the clearest signs that gambling has stopped being a pastime. Every round is independent: losing several in a row does not make the next one more likely to win.
Never gamble with borrowed money
Do not use loans, advances or money meant for rent, food, bills or debts. If you find yourself borrowing to gamble, it is time to stop and ask for help.
Set time and spending limits
- Before you start, decide how much money and time you will spend, and write it down.
- Set deposit, stake and session-time limits in your operator account. BetWarrior, for example, offers daily, weekly or monthly limits (official site (opens in a new tab; external site)).
- Use phone alarms or reminders to keep track of time.
- When you hit your limit, log out. Do not raise it on the spot.
Take breaks
Stepping away helps you regain perspective. Many operators offer temporary breaks: BetWarrior, for example, has a quick-exit button that logs you out and locks the account for 12 hours, plus a “time-out” option for longer periods.
Warning signs
The Province programme offers a self-assessment with questions like these. If several sound familiar, it is worth asking for guidance:
- Do you spend much of your time thinking about gambling?
- Have you gambled more than you wanted to, or until you lost your last peso?
- Have you wanted to stop and found you could not?
- Do you go back to win back what you lost?
- Have you felt remorse about how you gamble or its consequences?
- Have there been arguments at home about money because of gambling?
- Have you neglected work or other duties to gamble?
- Have you borrowed money you then could not repay?
- Do you hide information or lie about gambling?
You can take the official self-assessment on the programme's page (opens in a new tab; external site) (in Spanish).
Where to get help
The Compulsive Gambling Prevention and Assistance Program was created in 2005 under an agreement between the Province Lottery and the provincial Ministry of Health. It is a free public network with a free phone line (0800-444-4000) and ten centres across the Province:
| Centre | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Avellaneda | Av. Mitre 2071 P.A. | +54 11 4265-0080 / 4203-2161 |
| Bahía Blanca | Lavalle N° 229 | (291) 5767117 |
| General Pueyrredon (Mar del Plata) | 9 de Julio 3475 P.A. | (0223) 476-1241 |
| La Plata | Diagonal 74 N° 1627 | (0221) 427-1657 |
| Morón | Mendoza N° 372 | (011) 4483-6173 |
| Necochea | Calle 56 N° 3159 | (02262) 420-085 |
| Olavarría | Hornos 2992 | (02284) 410-102 |
| Pergamino | Estrada N° 1939 | (02477) 41-4554/55 |
| Tandil | Colombia N° 620, Depto. 2 | (0249) 443-1836 |
| Vicente López (Olivos) | Repetto N° 4237 | (011) 4836-0320 |
In addition, the Ministry of Health's Provincial Mental Health Network offers free care in all 135 municipalities: you can go to any Provincial Care Centre, provincial hospital or community centre. Free line 0800-222-5462; email enquiries to consumodigitalpbs@ms.gba.gov.ar. Services are provided in Spanish.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is a voluntary decision to lose access to gambling for a period. For gaming halls in the Province, the programme states that self-exclusion lasts two years and is requested with an application form and a consent form, submitted at any gaming hall; for questions, call 0800-444-4000.
For online gambling, self-exclusion is requested from each operator, through its site or app. BetWarrior, for example, includes voluntary self-exclusion among its tools.
If you are worried about someone close to you
Talk at a calm moment, without judging, and describe what you have noticed. Avoid lending money to cover gambling debts. The programme also supports families: the 0800-444-4000 line is a good first step.
What CasinoLupa does and doesn't do
We show the mandatory legal warning on every page, avoid urgency messages and promise no winnings. We are not a treatment or counselling service: if in doubt, use the official resources on this page.