Concepción Mayor Héctor Muñoz, in Chile, has warned that authorities will target illegal casinos operating behind hidden entrances inside shopping galleries.
The municipality is also expanding its enforcement campaign against unlicensed gambling venues.
The municipality has shut down 13 illegal casinos and seized about 960 gambling machines in recent enforcement operations in the city center. Since last year, officials have filed 9 criminal complaints, with 6 more currently in process, according to the mayor.
He added that the municipality has received reports of casinos operating through what he described as secret doors accessed via shopping galleries. He warned operators of these venues that authorities will locate and close them and confiscate their equipment, adding that the effort to reclaim the city center is being “taken seriously.”
In the most recent operation, conducted this week, authorities seized 54 machines. Muñoz said the municipality may need to open additional storage spaces to hold confiscated equipment if seizures continue at the current pace.
A separate case tied to a large 2024 operation in downtown Concepción is in its final stage, while prosecutors said related investigations remain active, with police financial crimes unit OS9 leading the inquiries.
The enforcement push extends beyond Concepción's city center. In neighboring Hualpén, Carabineros police arrested a person for operating an illegal casino inside a private residence. According to police, the suspect was charged with illegal lottery, operating an unlicensed gambling house and pawn lending, and authorities seized gambling machines found on the property.
Under Chile's Law 19.995, gambling is prohibited by default except where specifically authorized, such as the state lottery, licensed racetracks and regulated casinos.
Chile's Superintendency of Casinos has no authority to police unlicensed machines or online betting platforms, meaning such cases fall to prosecutors and police for investigation. Municipalities are barred from issuing business licenses to venues operating slot machines outside licensed casinos.
Earlier this week, authorities shut down the illegal Patagonia VIP casino for a second time after it reopened despite being sealed in January
