Argentina
Corruption remains rampant in Argentina. Gambling continues to be regulated on a state level meaning more opportunities for graft.
One of the key and most controversial figures in the gambling industry for many years was Cristóbal López.
Cristóbal López first began running gaming establishments in the southern province of Chubut in 1992 and then quickly expanded his gaming operations, Casino Club, into the provinces of Misiones, La Pampa, Mendoza and then later Santa Cruz, during which time Nestor Kirchner was governor. Casino Club was granted permission to run three casinos in Santa Cruz during the time the Peronist leader from the southern province had served as governor.
Two years later, once Kirchner was President, Casino Club was granted the right to run the slot machines in the racino in Buenos Aires. Furthermore ( in one of his last acts in power before his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner took office), by Presidential Decree, he ordered that an additional 1,500 slot machines had to be
In 2016, police found
envelopes stuffed with cash earmarked to bribe corrupt officers from a number of
municipalities in the province of Buenos Aires, so that they would turn a blind eye to a large scale illegal betting.
installed on top of the 3,000 already then in operation. He also extended the licence of the racino for a further 15 years.
Although not directly related to his gambling business, López was arrested in 2017 over tax evasion charges for the staggering sum of US$500m.
On a smaller scale, authorities have been bribed in order to look the other way so that illegal gambling rings can continue to operate.
In 2016, police found envelopes stuffed with cash which had been earmarked to bribe corrupt police officers from a number of municipalities in the province of Buenos Aires, so that they would turn a blind eye to a large scale illegal betting operation in their respective jurisdictions. Each of the 15 envelopes had the names of police stations and in one case a police division written on them, all belonging to the western suburbs of Buenos Aires.
OUTLOOK
It is highly unlikely that things will change for the better in the near future.
Corruption remains rampant in Argentina. Gambling continues to be regulated on a state level meaning more opportunities for graft.
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P39
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