CASCBA Presents Its Strategy Against Illegal Gambling to Paraguayan Authorities
Argentina.- 10 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Argentine Chamber of Casinos, Bingo Halls and Related Businesses (CASCBA) took part in an international training session focused on the detection, prevention, investigation and fight against illegal online gambling.
The event brought together public and private-sector representatives from Argentina and Paraguay to share tools and experiences aimed at addressing the growth of illegal betting across digital environments.
The initiative was promoted by the Association of Argentine State Lotteries (ALEA) as part of efforts to strengthen institutional cooperation against an activity capable of operating across national borders.
International Training Against Illegal Gambling
The meeting was organised around the theme “Detection, prevention, investigation and fight against illegal online gambling”.
The training addressed different methods used to identify and document activities associated with betting platforms operating outside regulated markets.
One of its main objectives was to share experience developed in Argentina with representatives of Paraguayan public bodies and the gambling industry.
Paraguayan Institutions Involved
The event was aimed at representatives of several Paraguayan organisations involved in gambling, criminal investigations, anti-money laundering efforts and public security.
Participants included representatives from:
- Paraguayan Association of Gambling Operators (APOJA).
- Paraguayan Public Prosecutor’s Office.
- Secretariat for the Prevention of Money or Asset Laundering (SEPRELAD).
- Paraguayan National Police.
The range of participating institutions illustrated the cross-sector nature of the fight against illegal betting, involving regulatory, financial, technological and judicial issues.
CASCBA Presents Its Working Methodology
During the meeting, CASCBA explained the methodologies it uses to detect, document and report illegal online gambling operations.
Its work includes monitoring different digital channels used by operators or intermediaries to promote their services and acquire players.
The presentation showed how information gathering can be structured before a formal complaint is submitted to the relevant authorities.
Identification of Illegal Websites
One of the areas addressed was the identification of websites associated with illegal betting.
Detecting domains and platforms is an initial stage in monitoring operators offering gambling services without the corresponding authorisation.
This work can generate information that is subsequently documented and incorporated into investigations or formal complaints.
Monitoring Social Media
CASCBA also explained its analysis of profiles and content published on social media.
Social platforms can operate as promotional and player-acquisition channels for betting operators, making their monitoring part of the methodologies used to identify illegal gambling activity.
Investigations therefore extend beyond the websites where bets are placed and also examine the channels used to direct players towards them.
Advertising Linked to Illegal Betting
Advertising for unauthorised platforms was another area discussed during the training session.
CASCBA presented tools designed to identify advertisements and promotional mechanisms used to increase the visibility of illegal gambling offerings.
Analysis of these campaigns can help establish how a platform seeks to attract bettors and which digital channels it uses to expand its reach.
Affiliates and Player Acquisition
The Argentine organisation also discussed the identification of affiliates linked to illegal betting.
Affiliate networks and other acquisition mechanisms can act as intermediaries between gambling platforms and players.
For this reason, the strategies presented during the session consider not only the final operator but also the broader digital ecosystem used to promote the activity and attract customers.
Documentation of Evidence
Another central component of the training concerned evidence gathering and documentation.
CASCBA representatives explained processes used to record information related to websites, social media accounts, advertising, affiliates and other elements associated with illegal operations.
Proper documentation is important to ensure that identified information can later support a complaint or be submitted to regulatory or judicial bodies.
Filing Complaints
The methodology presented also covers the procedures used to move from detecting an operation to formally reporting it.
This process connects monitoring conducted by regulated private-sector organisations with authorities capable of investigating and taking action against identified operations.
Coordination between these stages was presented as a central component of CASCBA’s approach.
Cooperation with ALEA
CASCBA also shared its experience of working with the Association of Argentine State Lotteries.
ALEA was the organisation behind the training initiative involving Paraguayan representatives.
Cooperation between the organisations combines operational knowledge from the gambling industry with the experience of institutions forming part of Argentina’s regulated lottery and gambling system.
Joint Work with LOTBA
The experiences presented during the event included cooperation with the Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA).
Coordination with the Buenos Aires regulator was highlighted as an example of how information can be exchanged between private-sector stakeholders and public authorities.
This type of cooperation is intended to convert the detection of suspicious activity into actionable information for the institutions responsible for intervention.
Specialised Gambling Prosecutor’s Office
CASCBA also referred to its work with the Specialised Gambling Prosecutor’s Office (FEJA).
The involvement of judicial bodies becomes particularly relevant when detected activity requires investigation and possible action through judicial channels.
The experience accumulated in Argentina formed part of the knowledge shared with Paraguayan authorities and industry representatives.
Cooperation with Judicial Police
Another experience discussed involved the Judicial Police Investigation Unit.
The participation of investigative bodies complements the initial detection work carried out by organisations connected with the regulated gambling sector.
The model presented seeks to connect digital identification, evidence gathering and intervention by institutions with investigative powers.
Technology Providers Within the Strategy
Cooperation is not restricted to government bodies.
CASCBA also outlined its collaboration frameworks with technology providers to help dismantle illegal gambling operations.
Technology companies can play an important role because of the digital nature of these platforms and their use of different online services to operate, advertise and acquire players.
CASCBA Representatives
CASCBA was represented by its executive director, Rodolfo Edgardo Cattaneo, and analyst Nicolás Martín Amarilla Díaz.
Both presented the tools and methodologies developed by the organisation.
Their presentation combined digital identification techniques with procedures for documenting evidence, filing complaints and coordinating with other institutions.
A Dynamic Digital Phenomenon
CASCBA highlighted the specific challenges presented by illegal online gambling because of its operation across digital environments.
Websites, social media profiles, advertisements and acquisition mechanisms can change or migrate rapidly, making continuous monitoring necessary.
This dynamic nature represents one of the main challenges faced by organisations seeking to identify and combat unauthorised gambling.
A Cross-Border Challenge
The cross-border nature of illegal online gambling was another central issue.
Digital platforms can target players located across different jurisdictions while relying on infrastructure, promotional channels or service providers that may also operate from different countries.
This characteristic increases the importance of information exchange and cooperation between authorities and organisations in different markets.
Public and Regulated Private Sectors
The strategy presented relies on permanent coordination between public authorities and the regulated private sector.
Industry operators and associations can identify websites, advertisements and player-acquisition mechanisms, while public institutions have regulatory, administrative, investigative or judicial tools available to act against identified operations.
Information exchange is intended to reduce the gap between the initial identification of illegal activity and intervention by the relevant authorities.
Cooperation Between Argentina and Paraguay
The training session also represents a further area of cooperation between Argentina and Paraguay.
The simultaneous participation of industry representatives, gambling organisations, judicial authorities, anti-money laundering institutions and police forces enabled the issue to be approached from several perspectives.
Sharing methodologies developed in Argentina can provide a reference for strengthening detection and coordination mechanisms in Paraguay.
Industry Context
The expansion of digital betting has also increased the challenges associated with platforms operating outside authorised gambling systems.
Unlike traditional operations, online gambling can rely on websites, social media, digital advertising, affiliates and multiple customer-acquisition mechanisms.
Strategies against the illegal market therefore increasingly require digital monitoring tools and cooperation between different institutions.
Next Steps and Impact
The experience presented by CASCBA reinforces the importance of maintaining permanent information-sharing mechanisms between Argentina and Paraguay.
The training also highlights an approach in which combating illegal online gambling does not depend on a single institution, but on coordination between regulators, industry associations, judicial bodies, investigative authorities and technology providers.
Stronger cooperation networks can help identify new operations, improve evidence gathering and accelerate formal complaints against platforms operating outside regulated gambling markets.
Editó: @fonta
