The provincial lottery of Rio Negro in Argentina has filed a criminal complaint against more than 100 online gambling websites following a surge in unlicensed iGaming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rio Negro Lottery filed the criminal complaint Friday with the province’s public prosecutor under Article 301 of the penal code, which prohibits any unauthorised gambling activity which poses a threat to public health or lottery profits.

The complaint addresses 130 unlicensed online gambling websites, with those convicted under the law facing a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment.

The lottery has also established a hotline for players to provide anonymous tips about unlicensed operators, and will conduct an extensive communications campaign in the province to raise awareness of the risks associated with illegal gambling.

As part of the crackdown, one local lottery agent has been raided and shut down for its part in an illegal online gambling operation.

Gaming Intelligence