Buenos Aires province orders block of 537 illegal gambling sites

A court in Argentina's Buenos Aires province has ordered the blocking of 537 websites offering illegal gambling and online betting as part of an investigation into alleged clandestine gaming operations.

The measure was ordered by the Cybercrime Specialized Prosecutor's Office of the San Isidro Judicial Department over suspected violations of Article 301 bis of Argentina's Penal Code.

The action was driven by prosecutor Patricio Ferrari following evidentiary proceedings requested by the Cámara Argentina de Salas de Casinos, Bingos y Anexos (CASCBA), seeking to block access to platforms operating without authorization.

The investigation determined that the sites operated outside the regulatory framework without the controls or certifications required to guarantee game transparency and outcome randomness. 

It also found serious shortcomings in identity verification mechanisms that allowed minors to access the platforms and noted that users often faced difficulties withdrawing prizes or winnings.

Gonzalo Atanasof, President of the Instituto Provincial de Lotería y Casinos, said: "Every illegal site we manage to block removes another point of access to an underground network that does not protect players, does not verify users' identities and allows minors to access gambling."

Ferrari highlighted the importance of coordination between public and private bodies in addressing the growth of illegal betting, noting that collaboration with the IPLyC is key to protecting children and adolescents from the risks posed by these platforms.

The blocking was implemented through existing protocols involving the Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones (ENACOM), which coordinates the measure with internet service providers. The investigation also found that organizations behind the sites recruited teenagers and young people to act as cashiers or intermediaries in exchange for small commissions.

Prosecutors said blocking illegal gambling sites requires continuous monitoring because new platforms regularly emerge, adding that investigations remain ongoing to identify those responsible for operating them.