Buenos Aires City Lottery has joined a new round of enforcement raids targeting illegal gambling operations in the southern area of the city, as authorities step up efforts to curb unlicensed betting and protect the regulated market.
The operation, dubbed Rombo Sur II, was led by the Specialized Gambling Prosecutor's Office under prosecutor Juan Rozas, with secretary Rodrigo Branca. The measures were authorized by Criminal, Misdemeanor and Minor Offenses Court No. 26, presided over by Judge Nicolás Repetto, and involved the Judicial Investigation Corps and the Buenos Aires City Police.
Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA) participated in the operation in its capacity as the city's gambling regulator and technical authority. The raids resulted in the seizure of cash, documentation and other materials allegedly linked to illegal gambling activities. Several individuals believed to be connected to the operations were identified, with further action subject to the progress of the judicial investigation.
According to LOTBA, the procedures stemmed from formal complaints filed by the regulator following systematic detection, analysis and territorial survey work conducted by its technical teams. This process, combined with information-sharing between institutions, enabled authorities to identify premises where gambling activities were being carried out without authorization or state oversight, in breach of current regulations.
LOTBA highlighted the role of coordinated action between regulatory bodies, the judiciary and security forces as a key element in tackling illegal gambling. The agency stressed that unlicensed gambling not only undermines the regulatory framework but also carries broader social risks, including increased exposure of children and adolescents to gambling activities.
Rombo Sur II follows an earlier enforcement action on December 12, when Buenos Aires City Lottery carried out Operation Rombo Sur, resulting in one arrest and the seizure of equipment and documentation linked to unauthorized lottery activities. That operation, conducted with the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Gambling (FEJA), targeted multiple unlicensed locations in the city's southern zone.
Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA) is the autonomous public body responsible for regulating, supervising and enforcing all legal gambling activity within the City of Buenos Aires
