Judge Cecilia Labanca confirmed charges against seven defendants in Santa Fe. Two Brazilian nationals and five Argentine citizens will stand trial. Their ages range from 28 to 63.
Prosecutor Agustín Nigro brought the case forward with evidence showing organised criminal activity. The two Brazilians allegedly served as company directors. They coordinated financial transactions and managed technical infrastructure for the operation.
The five Argentine defendants handled different parts of the business. Court documents show each person played a specific role in keeping the network running. All seven face prison time if convicted.
Why this prosecution matters for Argentina
The case represents one of Argentina’s biggest crackdowns on illegal online gambling. Authorities discovered the network managed at least 385 websites and subdomains offering casino games and sports betting. None had local licenses.
But here’s what made it worse. Around 20% of users were minors, with an average age of just 15. The general user base averaged 24 years old. That’s significantly younger than typical gambling demographics.
The operation ran from April 2023 through October 2024. It connected to two foreign corporate entities that handled money flows through Argentine banks. These companies processed payments and managed financial channels for the betting sites.
Investigators froze cryptocurrency accounts linked to the scheme earlier in the case. The digital evidence shows how money moved through the network.
What the prosecution is seeking
Nigro’s office assembled testimonial, documentary and digital evidence for trial. He rejected defence attempts to dismiss charges or challenge jurisdiction. Probation requests didn’t work either.
“We have conclusive elements to demonstrate in an oral and public trial the criminal operations of each of the accused,” Nigro said. The prosecution wants prison sentences and maximum fines allowed under the Penal Code.
The two Brazilian defendants face up to five years and six months. Argentine participants could get between four and four and a half years each. Those sentences reflect different roles within the operation.
How the trial moves forward from here
The court will now appoint a tribunal and schedule formal hearings. Once that happens, the trial date gets set. The proceedings will be oral and public.
Santa Fe’s judiciary accepted the full evidence package presented by prosecutors. This clears the way for public proceedings. The defence lost its main procedural challenges, so the case proceeds on schedule.
The prosecution signals growing provincial efforts to shut down unlicensed operators. Argentina hasn’t seen many cases this large targeting illegal online gambling networks. The trial could establish precedents for future enforcement actions across other provinces.
