The artist stated that he only carried out a commercial action without knowing that the platform he promoted did not have the necessary authorizations to operate.
Argentina.- Elián "L-Gante" Valenzuela went to testify in the case involving various celebrities for promoting unauthorized betting sites and explained how he agreed to advertise an illegal online casino.
The singer denied any link with the owners of these platforms: "I do not know who created, exploited, and operated the online gambling accounts," he stated, in a tone similar to what another investigated actress, Florencia Peña, had explained.
"I do not know if the gambling operation had the authorization of the Lottery of the City of Buenos Aires," explained Valenzuela, while adding: "I never had contact with the advertising company or those who commissioned the advertising campaign."
"I was hired to carry out a lawful activity. I did not know it was an illegal activity," reaffirmed L-Gante.
The singer insisted on his innocence and stated he was unaware of the situation behind the platform he promoted at the time: "My activity consists of composing and singing songs. That is my profession and my source of income. My only personal activity is music production. That is all I dedicate myself to."
Among the Argentine celebrities mentioned in the context of the investigation are, in addition to L-Gante and Florencia Peña, Trianela Campolieto (pilot for Aerolíneas Argentinas), Juliana "Furia" Scaglione, Flor Vigna, Morena Rial, Romina Uhrig, Williams López, Agostina Spinelli, Federico Farías (Manzana), Emmanuel Vich, Camila Lattanzio, Mathías Vasile, Marito Laurens, Joaquín López, and Alma Berezowski, who will also have to appear at the prosecutor's office to testify.
Due to the complaints made by the City of Buenos Aires through the City Lottery (LOTBA) to combat child gambling addiction and illegal betting, on Tuesday, October 8, the Justice carried out 30 raids and dismantled an organization that exploited illegal online gaming platforms. The mega-operation resulted in four people arrested, more than 1800 illegal pages blocked, and the judicial notification of the influencers.
As part of the operation, at least 1,835 sites were blocked, adding to the list of more than 200 pages that the City's Public Prosecutor's Office had already removed in September of this year. Sixteen celebrities and influencers were also judicially notified for the "promotion and recruitment of bettors through the advertising they have carried out on social networks and other media."
See also: The Argentine Chamber of Casinos denounces 18 influencers for promoting illegal online betting sites
Among the items seized by the City Police, the Federal Police, the Buenos Aires Province Police, and the Judicial Investigations Corps (CIJ) of the City's Public Prosecutor's Office are more than AR$250m, dollars, and firearms.
Among the measures taken by the City to tackle child gambling addiction is the closure of registration for new licenses and a cap was set at a maximum of 11 operators, which are the ones currently active and regulated. Also, 55 awareness workshops have been conducted, reaching more than 6,000 students, and access to online gaming sites has been blocked in 1,770 schools.
