Illegal Gaming Crackdown Continues in Chile

In Chile, gaming and law-enforcement authorities have had some successes in closing down illegal gaming establishments. This time, the activity focused on Temuco, an area in the center of the country near Santiago, Chile’s capital. Local authorities have initiated a plan called “Convive Temuco” to address the illegal gaming problem, which unfortunately remains strong despite intense efforts by the government.

Chilean authorities struggle to gain a foothold against illegal gaming, this time in Temuco. Caio Silva/Unsplash

Illegal activities sprout in Temuco

Temuco’s municipal government and local police led this particular raid on three illegal gaming houses in the area. This follows on from other successful raids in Concepción, a heavily industrialized area on the coast, between Santiago and Temuco.

In Concepción, authorities had struggled for some time to gain a foothold in the fight against “casinos populares” (popular casinos) which had been successfully operating despite not having proper licenses. The issue seemed to be manifold: the casinos were highly frequented, there were multiple locations and organizers to contend with, and local councilors were repeatedly denied the municipal support they needed.

Now a similar drama has unfolded in Temuco, though it seems municipal powers there have been more on board dealing with the matter with the swiftness it warrants. The result is that gaming equipment and other paraphernalia has been seized from three separate gaming establishments in Temuco’s La Araucanía town center.

In addition to gaming machines, police confiscated alcohol and illegal cigarettes, and arrested one person. The Prosecutor’s Office said it is also investigating additional crimes they found evidence of on the premises. Temuco’s mayor, Roberto Neira, assured the public that this is an issue the city will continue spending time on for the safety of its citizens.

Authorities seek support in battling illegal gaming

This is not the first that authorities have had to step in to stop illegal gaming in Temuco. In September, another successful operation resulted in the closure of 14 different gaming houses. Unfortunately, these places had reopened since a similar operation in August 2022.

This is evidence of how difficult it can be for local authorities to maintain power over illegally operating gaming locales. Even when all equipment is confiscated and fines are dispersed, operators come back in a new form eventually. As evidenced with the issues in Concepción, it might be that authorities in Chile need more backing to help them continue the fight effectively.

The Chamber of Deputies put forth a new strategy in September 2021, which aims to give them more legal authority for shutting down unlicensed gaming operations in Chile. However, there has not been additional movement on this initiative. Deputy Frank Sauerbaum spoke to the Internal Government Commission just a week ago to ask that work on this initiative be accelerated.

At the very least, authorities seem to be able to maintain control when it comes to the court. In July, a large group of Temuco gaming operators filed appeals against the municipality after their premises had been closed. They argued the decision on a legal basis, but the court ultimately rejected their claims. When it came down to it, they had not registered their machinery using the correct certification process, which is necessary to prove that machines are fair and up to federal standards.

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