Argentine judicial authorities have ordered the continued detention of Roberto Javier Zuco, identified by investigators as a central organizer behind an illegal online gambling network, while freezing assets valued at roughly ARS$7 billion, equivalent to about €4.1 million. The measures stem from a federal investigation into alleged money laundering and the operation of unregulated online betting platforms that prosecutors say functioned outside tax and regulatory oversight for several years.

Zuco, 54, was arrested in mid-October at his residence in the Terralagos gated community in Canning, an area located between Esteban Echeverría and Ezeiza in Buenos Aires province. Federal judge Jorge Rodríguez of the Morón court ordered him to remain in pretrial detention and approved the asset freeze, according to court filings reported by Argentine daily newspaper La Nación. Authorities believe Zuco played a leading role in organizing and managing the gambling operation, including decisions related to the handling of funds and assets.

Findings from the Federal Court

In his ruling, Judge Rodríguez described the case as an example of organized economic crime enabled by digital tools and informal financial practices. He wrote: “Throughout this case, the Prosecutor’s Office has shown that the defendants set up and operated a clandestine online gambling platform that functioned outside of any state regulation and without tax oversight.” The judge added that the investigation demonstrated “how technology and cash could be combined to conceal illicit proceeds.”

Court documents indicate that the alleged gambling platform operated under the trade name Celuapuestas. According to investigators, users accessed betting options such as roulette, slot-style games, and card games through websites, social media, and invitation-only links shared via applications including WhatsApp and Telegram. Prosecutors maintain that the system remained entirely outside Argentina’s authorized gambling framework.

The investigation began in May 2023 after an informant alerted authorities to what was described as a structured network offering online gambling services without authorization. Federal prosecutors in Hurlingham, led by Santiago Marquevich with the assistance of Eduardo Ezequiel Suárez, took charge of the inquiry, with support from the Procuraduría de Criminalidad Económica y Lavado de Activos and the Dirección General de Recuperación de Activos y Decomiso de Bienes.

How the Alleged Scheme Operated

Judge Rodríguez detailed the alleged financial structure used to process and conceal gambling revenues. He stated: “The criminal structure included a network of tellers and ‘mules’: people who made small, fragmented deposits at different banks, thus circumventing the automatic controls of the financial system.” According to the ruling, these deposits were routed through bank accounts and virtual wallets formally registered in the names of relatives, employees, or individuals lacking the economic means to justify the funds.

Once the money entered the Argentine financial system, the court found that it was cycled through several steps to obscure its origin. As Rodríguez explained, “Subsequently, the money was laundered through various manoeuvres: cash withdrawals, purchases of registered assets – such as vehicles or real estate – and investments in cryptocurrencies.” Investigators believe these methods allowed the organization to give the appearance of legitimacy to proceeds derived from illegal gambling.

Raids, Arrests, and Seized Assets

On October 15, coordinated raids carried out by the National Gendarmerie targeted multiple gated communities in Canning, including Terralagos, El Rebenque, and Santa Juana. Authorities arrested 19 suspects during the operation and seized approximately ARS$120 million in cash along with 60 vehicles. Officers also confiscated 40 computers, storage devices, a large number of mobile phones, three firearms, and 12 kilograms of marijuana packaged for distribution.

One arrest drew particular attention after drone footage captured the moment. According to official accounts, Jorge Valdivia, 48, was observed loading a suitcase containing ARS$12 million into a four-wheel-drive vehicle as he attempted to leave a gated neighborhood. He was intercepted at the security gate and later claimed during questioning that the money came from winnings at the Casino Central in Mar del Plata. Valdivia was prosecuted as an accomplice, placed under house arrest, and subjected to an asset freeze of ARS$2 billion.

Court filings state that the alleged illegal gambling activity began around 2020. Judge Rodríguez, joined by court secretary Ignacio Calvi, concluded that the suspects acted within an organized structure with defined roles, identifying Zuco as one of the principal leaders who issued instructions and oversaw asset management. Despite the arrests and seizures, judicial sources confirmed that the case remains open, with 19 suspects still considered fugitives as authorities continue to analyze seized evidence.