Hidden gaming facility exposed at the premium housing project's parking area

Spilling the Tea on Recent Crackdowns on Underground Gambling

Hold on to your hats, folks! There's a wave of raids happening globally against those sneaky, underground gambling operations. Let's break it down.

The shiny new targets

Argentina (Buenos Aires)
Raid Log: On a fateful day in May of '25, Buenos Aires police raided an illicit casino nestled in Villa Lugano. They pocketed a whopping $1.5 million in cold hard cash, along with a cache of firearms. A sly Paraguayan citizen was slapped with charges of organizing the gambling and possessing a firearm. The raid rounded up 27 individuals, all caught red-handed at the tables, and led to the confiscation of gaming equipment, cell phones, and a revolver[1].
United States (Ohio and Tennessee)
Operation Recap: Detectives, led by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, took down an underground gambling ring that spread its tentacles across Ohio and Tennessee. This investigation, involving simultaneous raids at five locations, snatched nearly 100 illegal slot machines, bundles of cash, and stacks of business records. Yep, they got 'em all[2].
Thailand (Virtual Gaming Heaven)
CCIB Strikes Back: On April 19 of this year, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) nailed a major online gambling network. It's a tough break for 19 suspects, who were arrested for their connections to six online gambling sites. The investigation revealed some murky waters of money laundering through corporate accounts and gold purchases. We're looking at 31 more dudes with pending warrants[4].
United States (Houston)
Houston Heat: In early April, the Houston authorities rumbled against a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling and money laundering scheme. The bust brought 16 individuals trembling into custody, slammed with charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering. This caper allegedly entangled illegal game rooms and financial transactions exceeding $22 million[5].

Don't miss out on the dirt on state-lottery operators and illegal gambling: Illegal gambling and betting: BEB exposes state lottery operators
Dig deeper into the sordid world of illegal gambling with the Office of the Prosecutor General: Office of the Prosecutor General reports on fighting illegal gambling

Author: Alina Shvets

[1] BNN, "Police raid illegal casino in Buenos Aires, arrest 27 individuals", May 7, 2025, link

[2] WBN, "Twin-state gambling ring busted by Ohio and Tennessee authorities", Madison County Sheriff's Office, May 18, 2025, link

[3] CCIB, "CCIB busts major online gambling network in Thailand", April 20, 2025, link

[4] Houston Chronicle, "Houston police arrest 16 in multi-million dollar illegal gambling and money laundering scheme", April 2, 2025, link

[5] Gambling News, "Illegal gambling activities result in Houston arrests, seizures", April 5, 2025, link

The Buenos Aires police seized over $1.5 million in cash and gaming equipment during a raid on an illicit casino in Villa Lugano, arresting 27 individuals and a Paraguayan suspect for organizing gambling and possessing a firearm. This event is part of the global crackdown on underground gambling operations.
The simultaneous raids by detectives led by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office took down an underground gambling ring in Ohio and Tennessee, resulting in the confiscation of nearly 100 illegal slot machines, bundles of cash, and stacks of business records.
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) of Thailand recently seized a major online gambling network, arresting 19 suspects connected to six online gambling sites and uncovering money laundering activities through corporate accounts and gold purchases.
Houston authorities recently cracked down on a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling and money laundering scheme, leading to the arrest of 16 individuals on charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering.
General news outlets, such as the Houston Chronicle and Gambling News, are covering the recent crackdowns on underground gambling and the subsequent arrests and seizures, providing an insight into the world of crime and justice.