In a significant action to combat gambling among young people, the head of the Government of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri, announced an operation that resulted in the seizure of 250 million pesos, which included resources in both cash and cryptocurrencies.
Additionally, 1,835 websites were blocked. Macri, accompanied by the Minister of Justice of Buenos Aires, Gabino Tapia, warned of the consequences for celebrities and influencers who promote these illicit platforms.
Influencers and illegal betting
Juan Bautista Mahiques, the city’s attorney general, highlighted the seriousness of the situation by stating: “The 14 influencers who were notified have a criminal case; they were notified to appear to testify.”
Therefore, this notice marks a firm step in the regulation of a sector that has grown rapidly, especially among young people.
Macri also made a point of emphasizing the responsibility of influencers in promoting content. “Our policy is to inform the influencer what they are promoting, as they may not know that it is an illegal platform. In in-depth investigations like this, a criminal case is opened directly.”
But, among the notified influencers are celebrities such as actress and presenter Florencia Peña and Marito Laurens, known as “Your trusted butcher” on TikTok.
But sources from the newspaper La Nacion reported that the list of accused is expected to increase, with new notifications expected in the coming days. This move reflects a broader strategy to discourage the promotion of online gaming, especially focused on protecting minors.
Government of Buenos Aires promotes actions
The government of Buenos Aires, through the City Lottery (LOTBA), has led a series of actions to curb gambling among young people. After receiving several complaints, the courts carried out 30 raids, dismantling an organization dedicated to operating illegal gaming platforms.
Macri did not hesitate to reaffirm the administration’s commitment to combating this issue, stating: “Addiction to sports betting and online gaming is a growing phenomenon that we have to stop. Let’s not look the other way.”
“In this way, we will continue to combat illegal gambling because, in addition to being a crime, it puts at risk the health and freedom of the most valuable asset we have, our children,” he concluded.