Argentine judge seeks to ban 888

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- As reported by GamblingCompliance: "A municipal judge in Buenos Aires has ordered the 888.com website to be made inaccessible to city residents on the grounds that the web offering violates local gambling laws. The ruling follows similar moves against both Bwin's and Victor Chandler's Argentine-facing sites last year.

"The new ruling by municipal prosecutor Luis Duacastella Arbizu requires 888's Gibraltar-based operating subsidiary Cassava Enterprises to block access to the 888.com and 888.com.ar sites by Buenos Aires residents.

"The ruling was published in the Buenos Aires government's official journal at the end of March, and then republished by the Buenos Aires-based gaming news service Yogonet at Arbizu's express request earlier this week.

"The original ruling granted 888 a 48-hour window to 'take the necessary measures' to prevent porteños - Buenos Aires residents – from being able to access the websites.

"Arbizu said that he considered 888's websites to violate articles 116, 117 and 118 of the Buenos Aires 'Contravention Code', which specifically prohibits the local operation and/or promotion of gambling services without a valid licence..."