Chile: Prosecutor seeks 25 years for illegal casino leader
The Chilean Public Prosecutor's Office took a decisive step in one of the most relevant cases of recent years regarding illegal gambling. The Concepción Prosecutor's Office formally accused an organization alleged to have operated five illegal casinos in the Biobío region between 2020 and 2023, and requested sentences of up to 25 years in prison for the alleged leader of the network, Marlo Alarcón Opazo. The case is now ready for oral trial after a confidential investigation that lasted three years.
The prosecutor in charge, Pamela Lillo, will bring ten defendants to trial for the crimes of illicit association, clandestine trade, illegal casino operation, and money laundering. The requested sentences range from 540 days to 25 years in prison, making this case one of the most ambitious in terms of prosecuting illegal gambling at the local level. The operation carried out in 2024 had led to the seizure of approximately 1,500 slot machines and the arrest of 19 people.
The economic background of the organization
According to the case file, the structure allegedly operated through a dozen commercial companies that served as a front for the administration of the venues. During the investigated period, the network is believed to have moved around CLP12.5 billion (about US$13 million) and obtained profits of approximately CLP4.3 billion (US$4.7 million), figures that illustrate the economic magnitude of the circuit parallel to the regulated casino system.
The underlying debate about skill machines
The case once again brings to the table a discussion that Chile has been having for years: the difference between slot machines and so-called skill or dexterity machines. From the Municipality of Concepción, legal chief Rodrigo Díaz praised the progress of the process and emphasized that the court must establish criteria on the true nature of the seized equipment, a key definition for future operations throughout the country. The defense, on the other hand, will try to introduce reasonable doubt, arguing that the devices are not traditional slot machines and that without games of chance, the charges of money laundering and clandestine trade cannot be sustained.
The hearing for the preparation of the oral trial was set for June 22 at the Concepción Guarantee Court. The ruling that comes at the end of the process will be closely watched beyond Chile's borders. In much of Latin America, countries like Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil face the same regulatory dilemma regarding the expansion of unauthorized venues and machines presented as entertainment, in a scenario where illegal gambling continues to compete for resources with the regulated channel and public coffers.
Tags: Chile, Concepción, illegal casinos Chile, clandestine gambling Biobío, Prosecutor's Office of Concepción, casino regulation Chile, money laundering Chile