San Carlos, Ñuble region, Chile — September 2025. In a determined enforcement action, municipal authorities and Carabineros shut down an illegal casino in the heart of San Carlos. Despite having been closed multiple times before, the venue reopened repeatedly—prompting legal intervention.
The closure was carried out under a court order from the Local Police Court, in coordination with the municipality and supported by law enforcement. Authorities seized over 100 slot machines at the site on Serrano and Matta streets, aiming to prevent their reuse in future illicit operations.
Mayor Rubén Méndez stressed that the casino defied regulations by reopening three times despite prior shutdowns, signaling blatant contempt for legal enforcement. The machines were confiscated as part of a broader strategy to deter further illegal gambling activity in the city.
Authorities target unauthorized gaming venues in Estación Central with major equipment seizure
San Carlos officials additionally filed five infractions under Article 17 of Municipal Ordinance No. 31, targeting entry to closed or unauthorized commercial spaces. The operation is part of a wider crackdown: municipal records show there are at least seven other illicit gambling establishments still active in the area.
The legal groundwork for the closure comes from the Municipal Revenue Decree Law No. 3,063, updated by Decree Law No. 2,385, which mandates municipal authorization for commercial operations. The Local Police Court has the legal authority to order closures and confiscations in cases of illegal commerce—and this authority was exercised decisively in this case.
