Illegal platform extorted soccer players in Rosario
The Public Prosecutor's Office (MPA) of Santa Fe has opened a criminal investigation against an illegal online casino platform operating in Rosario, after former Rosario Central footballer Jonathan Gómez filed a complaint for extortion, attempted procedural fraud, and violation of the Gambling Law. The accused are Agustín Censi and Gaspar Zayas, identified as operators of "Lexus," a clandestine gambling platform frequented by professional footballers.
According to the complaint, Gómez began playing on the platform approximately a year ago, after being contacted by a relative of his wife. Access was granted via a username and password that were updated with each domain change, and credit to play roulette, poker, and blackjack was loaded in exchange for cash, transfers, or checks. By mid-2025, his debt reached USD 50,000. From that moment, pressure began via WhatsApp, demands for property sales, and finally, physical visits for extortion.
In October 2025, Zayas and an accomplice took Gómez to a notary's office where they forced him to sign four promissory notes totaling USD 505,000, ten times the original debt amount, while threatening him that "Los Monos were at the top of everything" and that they would kill his children. The lawsuit for the execution of these promissory notes is being processed in Civil and Commercial Court N°2 of San Lorenzo and resulted in the embargo of the footballer's account at Banco Supervielle for more than ARS 87 million.
As part of the investigation, authorities intercepted a car in Granadero Baigorria and arrested Fausto Carbajo, identified as the organization's "cashier" and cousin of Gómez's wife, who was traveling with Matías Belloso, son of Rosario Central president Gonzalo Belloso. The case remains in the preparatory criminal investigation stage, and none of the accused have commented publicly. Gómez requested protection measures for his entire family and asked for the lifting of tax, banking, and stock market secrecy for the accused to reconstruct the financial circuit of the operation.
The case exposes a growing problem in Latin American football: the proliferation of illegal gambling platforms operating in the gray area between digital and in-person, specifically targeting athletes with high incomes and low financial literacy. Argentina does not have federal regulation of online gambling, which facilitates the operation of these networks in provinces where control is scarce. The debate about the need for a national regulatory framework that protects both common players and public figures is becoming increasingly urgent.
Tags: Argentina, illegal gambling, extortion, football, Rosario, Santa Fe, illegal betting