Argentina launches major crackdown on illegal online gambling
Argentine authorities have frozen assets worth approximately €4.1m following a major investigation into an alleged unlicensed online gambling network operating outside state regulation. Federal prosecutors charged the suspected organiser with money laundering and the illegal operation of online betting services, marking a high-profile enforcement action against underground gambling activity.
The case centres on an online platform accused of offering gambling through websites and social media channels without regulatory approval or tax oversight. Investigators say the operation relied on a complex financial structure designed to avoid detection, including fragmented bank deposits made by intermediaries across multiple institutions. Judicial authorities described the scheme as a deliberate effort to circumvent automated financial controls.
During coordinated raids in October, law enforcement arrested multiple suspects and seized significant assets, including dozens of vehicles, large quantities of cash, electronic devices, firearms and narcotics. Prosecutors detailed how illicit proceeds were allegedly laundered through cash withdrawals, registered asset purchases and cryptocurrency investments. Drone surveillance also played a role in tracking suspects attempting to move large sums of money.
The investigation began in 2023 after intelligence reports flagged the existence of a structured illegal gambling network. According to court rulings, the operation highlights how digital tools and cash-based systems can be combined to conceal criminal proceeds. Several suspects remain at large as authorities continue their efforts to dismantle the network fully.
The case signals a tougher stance by Argentine authorities against unregulated online gambling and related financial crimes. For the regulated iGaming sector, it underscores the importance of compliance, licensing and financial transparency as regulators across Latin America intensify enforcement against illicit operators.
