Buenos Aires City Lottery shuts down over 2,000 illegal platforms, reports 110+ influencers

In its fight against gambling addiction among minors and illegal online gambling, the Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA) has shut down more than 2,000 illegal gambling platforms and reported over 110 influencers who promoted these sites on their social media accounts.

The move was confirmed by Jesús Acevedo, President of LOTBA, on the program El Observador, where he provided details of these and other actions being taken by the lottery to address these issues.

"Together with the Special Prosecutor's Office for Gambling and Betting, headed by Dr. Juan Rosas, we have managed to shut down over 2,000 illegal profiles and platforms" that were detected through complaints filed with the organization, he explained.

Por denuncias de Lotería de la Ciudad y gracias al trabajo de la Fiscalía Especializada en Juegos de Azar, ya logramos que se cierren más de 2000 perfiles y plataformas ilegales e intimamos a más de 100 influencers por promocionar estos sitios.

Es una batalla dura y despareja… https://t.co/7CA2n3Nydj

— Jechu Acevedo (@jechuacevedo1) July 22, 2025

The executive also reported that they had carried out nine simultaneous raids, during which they found not only technological tools but also cash and even a weapon.

Regarding the influencers who were reported and the illegal gambling promotions they were carrying out, Acevedo emphasized: "A minor who is watching this is influenced by what they are seeing and is much more likely to end up in this situation than an adult who has more developed mental maturity."

Addressing gambling addiction

The official explained that the Lottery addresses gambling addiction with a two-pronged strategy: on the one hand, raising awareness among society and families, working together with schools, neighborhood clubs, the Ministry of Education, and the Secretariat of Sports; and, on the other hand, regulatory and punitive actions against illegal platforms.

He also reported that the illegal market represents between 75% and 80% of the total betting market and operates mainly through WhatsApp with so-called ‘cashiers’, bookmakers who create anonymous users, allowing access to minors.

Another LOTBA strategy is the first festival against underage gambling, which will take place on July 26 and 27 at the Arena Parque Norte, with free admission, where youth will highlight the risks of gambling through rhymes.

In addition, authorities have launched the 'Talking is winning' campaign, which emphasizes the importance of dialogue at both the social and family levels to address this issue.

Acevedo concluded that current Argentine regulations are not prepared for this scenario, given that it is a "new phenomenon," but he welcomed the fact that both the National Congress and provincial legislatures are working on bills to regulate influencers when they promote illegal gambling.