A 25-year-old influencer from Santa Fe province has been formally charged with promoting illegal gambling and organizing unauthorized lottery-style contests through social media.
The suspect, identified by his initials AET, appeared before Judge Nicolás Falkenberg following an investigation led by prosecutor Roberto Olcese. Authorities allege the individual operated two Instagram accounts with a combined audience of around one million followers, which were used to promote online betting platforms and run unlicensed prize draws.
According to the investigation, one of the schemes took place between December 8 and 30, 2025, offering prizes including a Peugeot 207 car, cash and a smartphone. Participants were required to purchase numbered entries priced between ARS2,000 ($1.50) and ARS4,000, with payments processed via bank transfers that are now under review.
The case was initially flagged by the provincial authority, Lotería de Santa Fe, which reported the activity for operating without regulatory approval. Prosecutors later linked the suspect to additional incidents involving the promotion of unlicensed online casino and betting platforms through Instagram Stories and Reels, allegedly using promo codes and referral links to direct users to those sites.
The suspect was arrested during a police raid at his residence in Santo Tomé, Santa Fe. A court hearing is expected to determine if he will be held in custody pending trial.
The case forms part of a broader enforcement trend in Argentina, where authorities are increasingly targeting social media promotion and influencers as a key channel for illegal gambling operations.
In Argentina, only licensed operators and officially authorised lotteries can offer prize draws or betting activities, making social media promotions of unlicensed gambling subject to criminal prosecution
