Buenos Aires Province Enacts Law Banning Child Support Debtors from Casinos

New Legislation Targets Delinquent Payers

The Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has taken a significant step to enforce child support obligations by enacting a new law that bans individuals listed as delinquent child support payers from entering casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments. The provincial Senate recently converted the bill, originally proposed by provincial deputy Germán Di Cesare of the Unión por la Patria party, into law, marking a new approach to social protection and accountability.

Enforcement Through the RDAM

The core of the new legislation relies on the Registro de Deudores Alimentarios Morosos (RDAM), the official registry of child support debtors. Individuals are included in the RDAM if they have failed to make three consecutive or five alternate child support payments, a criterion already established by the Buenos Aires justice system.

Under the new law, operators of gambling venues are mandated to consult the RDAM before granting entry to any person. Should an individual be identified on the registry, access must be immediately denied. This requirement places a direct responsibility on gaming establishments to uphold the new regulation.

Penalties and Objectives

To ensure compliance, the law outlines a graduated system of penalties for operators who fail to enforce the ban. These sanctions can range from:

• Official warnings
• Fines between 10 and 100 minimum salaries
• Temporary closure of the establishment
• Permanent closure in severe or repeated cases

Proponents of the law, including Deputy Di Cesare, emphasize its objective to protect the rights of children and adolescents and to reinforce the fulfillment of economic obligations related to their upbringing. Government representatives have called it a 'concrete tool to protect children and adolescents' and a 'necessary mechanism to generate real consequences for those who evade parental responsibilities.'

Broader Context and Future Steps

This initiative expands upon Law 13.074, which previously regulated the creation and function of the RDAM. The Province of Buenos Aires now joins other Argentine provinces, such as San Juan and Salta, which have implemented similar measures this year to pressure delinquent payers.

The law now awaits promulgation by the provincial Executive Power. Following promulgation, the Executive will be responsible for implementing the necessary procedures, articulating with gaming operators, and determining the specific authority for the law's application and fiscalization. Regulations for its enforcement are expected to be issued within 90 days.