Argentina court reviews cryptocurrency assets in online gambling case

Argentina’s Santa Fe provincial court system is currently deliberating whether to maintain or reduce precautionary measures affecting approximately $1.3m in cryptocurrency assets linked to an ongoing illegal online gambling investigation.

Chamber Judge Fabio Mudry presided over a hearing held last Friday at the Santa Fe courts, where legal representatives from both prosecution and defense presented their arguments regarding the frozen digital assets. The Judge indicated that a written resolution would be issued shortly due to the complexity of the matter.

The case comes from a complaint filed in May 2024 by Santa Fe government officials. The complaint initially targeted 273 illegal gambling websites and later expanded to 385 unauthorized online betting platforms.

Seven individuals face charges under Article 301 bis of the Penal Code for “organizing gambling without authorization,” a crime carrying sentences of three to six years imprisonment.

Among the accused are two Brazilian nationals and the companies Transfero Pagamento SA and Transfero Gestión, allegedly used as operational fronts.

Prosecutor Leandro Mega emphasized the importance of maintaining the cryptocurrency and bank account freezes to ensure potential asset forfeiture in future proceedings. The prosecution team includes attorneys from both the provincial prosecutor’s office and the state attorney general’s office.

Good to know: Santa Fe court had re-frozen the cryptocurrency accounts in June

Casino Santa Fe, serving as a civil plaintiff alongside the provincial government, supports maintaining the current asset restrictions.

The casino’s legal representative, José Ignacio Mohamad, requested confirmation of provincial court jurisdiction over the investigation.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 22. Investigators believe it involves millions of dollars generated through unauthorized digital gambling platforms operating within Santa Fe province.

Carlos Mendez

Writer

Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.

Visit Profile

Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.