Nearly a month into the World Cup, the soccer tournament still holds the world’s attention. However, in the shadow of this global spectacle, the Catholic Church in Argentina is increasingly concerned about online betting and the gambling addiction it can trigger among users, many of whom are children and adolescents.
Cardinal Ángel Rossi, archbishop of Córdoba, emphasized the need to listen to “the cries of the world,” highlighting that young people are often victims “of those who exploit them for drugs, drug trafficking, or betting and gambling.” He noted that children and young people are often more concerned about the outcome of a bet than enjoying the match itself.
Bishop Dante Braida of La Rioja warned that “any mobile phone can turn into a casino,” noting how easy it is for minors to access betting platforms. According to a Red Cross survey, 83% of adolescents who bet do so using digital wallets, and six out of 10 cannot distinguish between legal and illegal platforms.
The bishops called on authorities, parents, educators, and parish communities to foster environments of dialogue and support to combat this growing issue, urging them to “do much more to set boundaries and support efforts to change.”
