Several countries in the Americas have adopted different approaches to regulating gambling advertising to protect minors, with varying degrees of stringency and scope. While some jurisdictions have specific rules on advertising, others focus on access restrictions or rely on regional regulation.
Key takeaways
- Several countries (Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico and Peru) have rules aimed at preventing minors from accessing gambling platforms.
- Argentina has specific restrictions on gambling advertising targeting minors at both national and provincial levels, while the US lacks federal regulation and relies on state-level rules.
- Chile is considering new legislation to introduce stricter measures, including identity verification and responsible advertising obligations.
Why it matters: Divergent regulatory approaches create compliance challenges for operators and may result in inconsistent levels of protection for minors across the region. Ongoing legislative developments suggest a trend towards stricter controls, particularly in emerging online gambling markets.
Background/context: Regulation of gambling and related advertising has increasingly focused on protecting minors, especially with the expansion of online platforms. Countries have adopted different mechanisms, ranging from advertising restrictions to access controls such as age verification. However, the absence of harmonised rules across the region reflects differing policy goals and regulatory maturity.
Cullen International’s latest benchmark covers regulatory approaches to online gambling in selected countries in the Americas region.
Scope
Region: Americas
Countries covered: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, US, Argentina, Chile, Peru
Policy area: Gambling / advertising / child protection
Last updated: March 2026
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See also our related Americas benchmarks on the protection of minors online:
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