The first unauthorized online betting site operator in Argentina to be convicted was given a tough three year sentence this week with the goal of causing others to abandon the market.
Quinton Gregory Marshall was handed a three year prison sentence for running multiple online betting sites that were liked to the Miljugadas betting brand. The sentence was handed down by Judge Rodolfo Ariza Clérici, although the sentence was suspended because of the defendant's lack of a criminal history. The websites tied to Marshall were shut down last year after law enforcement accused him and his partners of illegally offering betting services without a license.
Argentina is looking to shore up its online betting industry by prosecuting those offering services without licenses. Betting is regulated on a state or local level, and the country recently dissolved their national lottery. There are currently more than 180 sites operating illegally within the country that are under investigation.
We'll be updating readers as we learn more about the clampdown.
Comments
Even though the sentence was suspended I think it should be a big warning to all the illegal operators there and notify them that the local authorities are pretty serious about 'cleaning' the market so the next one might not be suspended and I think that would do the the job in general.