TLDR A new bill in Mendoza, Argentina wants to teach financial education in secondary schools Lawmaker Germán Gómez proposed the bill to prevent youth over-indebtedness Data shows 39.3% of young borrowers aged 18-21 missed loan payments in April 2026 A survey found 16% of teens aged 13-18 have gambled online at least once The program would cover interest rates, loan terms, scams, and gambling risks
Lawmakers in Mendoza, Argentina are pushing a new bill to protect teenagers from financial risks tied to digital wallets and online gambling. The bill was introduced by provincial lawmaker Germán Gómez.
It focuses on teaching financial education in secondary schools. The goal is to help students understand credit before they enter the formal banking system.
Gómez said teens are growing up inside a financial system they were never taught to understand. He believes education, not restriction, is the answer.
Growing Financial Risks Among Young People
The bill points to data showing the scale of the problem. A study by the Center for Argentine Political Economy looked at Central Bank figures from May 2026.
It found that 29.6% of families using digital wallets were behind on payments. That is close to one in three households.
The numbers get worse for younger borrowers. Delinquency among 18 to 21 year olds using Banco Provincia’s microcredit program hit 39.3% in April 2026.
That is nearly double the 19.7% rate from one year earlier. Most of these young borrowers, 92%, did not have formal jobs.
This means many teens are taking on debt before earning their first paycheck. Online gambling adds another layer to the issue.
An Argentine Red Cross survey polled over 11,000 people aged 13 to 18. It found that 16% had gambled online at least once.
Of those who gambled, one in eight said