Chile: Concepción shuts down illegal casino for second time

Chilean authorities have shut down an illegal casino in Concepción for the second time and seized 60 gaming machines.

A woman was detained and accused of reopening the venue after municipal officials had sealed it in January.

The operation was carried out by Carabineros and the municipal Public Security department at a venue known as Patagonia VIP in downtown Concepción.

Officers found about 15 people using the machines when they entered the property. Most were released after identity checks, though two men were taken to a police station for further verification. 

Miguel Hernández, Operations Chief at Concepción's First Police Precinct, said: "A 49-year-old Chinese woman was caught in the act inside the illegal gambling venue." According to Hernández, she was detained for breaking the official seal placed on the property when it was closed in January.

Municipal staff removed the 60 gaming machines to a storage site and the property was resealed by local authorities.

Boris Negrete, Concepción's municipal administrator, said the closure forms part of a broader strategy against unlicensed gaming venues in the city center. He added that authorities are seeking court authorization to destroy previously seized machines, citing limited storage space for the growing number of confiscated units.

The Patagonia VIP closure is the latest in a crackdown on illegal casinos launched by Concepción authorities. According to the municipality, the campaign has resulted in 12 operations targeting 13 illegal gambling venues.

Similar enforcement actions have been carried out elsewhere in Chile. Last month, authorities in Chillán shut down an unauthorized gambling venue and arrested seven people as part of an ongoing campaign against illegal gaming. Municipal officials said the number of unlicensed gaming venues in the city has fallen following coordinated operations with Carabineros.