Nicaragua man sentenced to 17 years for illegal raffle network

A man accused of leading an unauthorized raffle network in the department of Masaya has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. The ruling, issued by the Sixth Criminal District Court of Managua, also includes a fine exceeding 168 million córdobas.

Authorities and legal experts noted that only LOTO, supported by the National Lottery, is authorized to operate electronic raffles in Nicaragua. Unauthorized activities are frequently detected in Managua, Masaya, Granada, and León.

Legal specialists warned that illegal raffles are often linked to other criminal activities, including fraud and money laundering. When multiple offenses are combined, sentences can reach up to 20 years in prison.