Argentinian authorities dismantle illegal online casino network in Mar del Plata

Argentinian authorities have dismantled a large-scale illegal online casino network operating from Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, arresting two individuals and seizing assets worth millions of pesos. 

The investigation, led by the Policía Federal Argentina (PFA) under the Federal Court No. 3 of Judge Santiago Inchausti and Prosecutor Laura Mazzaferri, included ten simultaneous raids across the city, two of them in the private Rumencó residential complex.

The operation followed an investigation launched in July 2024 and coordinated with the PFA’s Anti-Money Laundering and Narcotics Financing Unit. 

Officers confiscated approximately ARS 2.8m ($1,900), $174,460, and money in other currencies, such as Brazilian reais, Uruguayan pesos and Paraguayan pesos, alongside seven luxury cars, including an Audi S4 and BMW models; four high-performance motorcycles; two ATVs; 30 mobile phones; 11 computers; a firearm and a significant amount of documentation.

Authorities said the criminal organization managed unlicensed online casino platforms and used complex financial structures to launder illicit proceeds. The alleged scheme operated in two stages: first, generating revenue through illegal gambling, and second, moving funds through accounts opened under the names of third parties, known as “financial mules,” to obscure their origin and distribution.

Charges include illegal association, unauthorized gambling operations and violations of the Argentine Customs Code. Two additional suspects remain at large and are believed to be in Uruguay and Paraguay, with international arrest warrants pending.

According to the PFA, the enforcement effort was part of a broader initiative to combat unlicensed gambling and money laundering within Argentina’s digital gaming ecosystem. The investigation involved specialized technical teams from the Superintendence of Narcotics Investigations and its Anti-Drug Division in Mar del Plata.

The case underscores Argentina’s ongoing challenges in regulating cross-border online gaming and financial crime. As the legal iGaming sector continues to expand across Latin America, the operation highlights the growing need for robust compliance frameworks and interjurisdictional cooperation to prevent the proliferation of unregulated gambling platforms.

Mark Sullivan

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