Matías Gabriel Garcilazo worked as an Airport Security Police officer by day. Online, he ran a different operation entirely. Authorities arrested him last week at a Pilar mansion alongside Paula Villafañe, his partner and alleged accomplice. Garcilazo had built an 86,000-strong Instagram following by showing off Rolex watches and Ferrari cars.
Villafañe, a former daycare worker receiving social welfare benefits, had nearly 69,000 followers herself. She handled betting lines through Telegram and WhatsApp. The pair lived large while allegedly pulling minors into illegal gambling.
Nine total arrests came from this investigation. Nicolás Silva, identified as owner of the Nicobet network and Sportsbet’s Argentina representative, was also taken into custody. Prosecutor Daniel Ernesto Ichazo from UFI N°8 in Berazategui led the case.
Why This Network Targeted Young Gamblers
The investigation started with an anonymous tip about a 13-year-old betting online without supervision. That single report uncovered something much bigger. Over a year of cyber investigation revealed an organised criminal network operating as Sportsbet.
They recruited through Instagram posts and YouTube live streams. The setup was deliberate. Cashiers resold betting chips to anyone who contacted them—including minors—through messaging apps. No age checks. No supervision.
A survey of 2,933 students in Berazategui, Quilmes and Florencio Varela showed the damage. Fifteen percent of minors admitted gambling online. Over 80% started after seeing social media ads or influencer promotions.
What the Criminal Network Actually Did
The operation had structure. Garcilazo promoted the lifestyle. Villafañe handled customer communications and betting lines. Silva provided the network infrastructure through Nicobet.
They used Instagram to show off wealth. YouTube streams let people bet live. Then cashiers processed transactions through WhatsApp and Telegram transfers. The whole system ran on social media platforms kids already used daily.
Authorities filed over 60 charges across all defendants. Computer forensics teams are still analysing seized devices. Results could bring additional arrests and expanded charges for recruiting minors and economic exploitation in digital spaces.
How Social Media Made This Possible
Forty-two percent of young gamblers surveyed said addiction risk didn’t matter to them. That’s not accidental, it’s the result of constant exposure to gambling content dressed up as lifestyle content.
The survey found 40% of parents exercised no control over their kids’ phone content. Garcilazo and his network exploited that gap. They made illegal betting look like the path to luxury cars and designer watches.
This case shows how gambling networks now operate. They don’t need physical locations anymore. Just Instagram accounts and messaging apps. And they’re reaching kids before those kids understand what they’re getting into.
