Mexico’s gambling regulator is pushing back against explosive claims that it granted 20 casino licenses to a company tied to a detained former official linked to drug cartels, confirming the matter is under judicial order and licenses remain inactive. This is the latest controversy in a gambling industry already riddled with corruption allegations and criminal investigations.
The report published by Mexico’s prominent newspaper Reforma alleges that during the last year of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration, the country’s gaming regulator approved 20 licenses to Compañía Operadora Clié, which is reportedly connected to the family of Hernán Bermúdez Requena. Bermúdez Requena, once head of security in the state of Tabasco, is now held on accusations of leading a criminal group tied to Mexico’s notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Mexican authorities have firmly denied these claims. The Interior Ministry (SEGOB), overseeing the General Directorate of Games and Sweepstakes, stated the licenses were only issued following judicial rulings through administrative courts and have not been used to operate active casinos. The ministry stressed that licenses were not directly assigned to Clié but belong to different legal entities. Several related licenses, including those for casinos Centenario and Diamante and the CrownCityBets betting website, have already been suspended.
Regulator Pushes Back Against Corruption Allegations
Former SEGOB chief Luisa María Alcalde rejected accusations linking her to the license approvals or corruption. She clarified that Clié received just one license back in 2017 during Enrique Peña Nieto’s presidency. Alcalde emphasized that the other licenses cited by Reforma stemmed from ongoing legal disputes and came with restrictions barring popular casino games, limiting their utility.
“I had never seen this Requena character in my life,” Alcalde declared. “In every position I have held, I have never committed a single act of corruption or dishonesty.”
The Association of Licensees and Suppliers of the Entertainment and Gambling Industry in Mexico (AIEJA) also backed the regulator, urging accurate and verified reporting. They stressed the importance of maintaining trust in what they described as a “tightly regulated sector” despite past scandals.
Background: Ongoing Gambling Industry Scrutiny
Mexico’s gambling scene has been under heavy scrutiny. Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against three individuals and two casinos linked to the Northeast Cartel, recently designated a terrorist organization by the US. In 2022, the General Directorate of Games and Sweepstakes faced accusations of racketeering, demanding bribes from casino owners to retain licenses or avoid fines.
This latest controversy fuels concerns about the penetration of organized crime into Mexico’s gambling industry and government regulatory processes, raising alarms for international observers and financial watchdogs alike. The involvement of a former top security official now in custody adds a grave security and corruption dimension that could ripple far beyond Mexico’s borders.
Why This Matters Now
For US readers, particularly those in Montana, where gambling regulation and gaming industry integrity remain hot topics, the Mexican scandal is a stark reminder of cross-border risks tied to illicit financing and cartel influence. As casinos worldwide increasingly face pressure to clean up operations amid tougher regulations, this controversy highlights how judicial rulings and regulatory oversight can become battlegrounds for both law enforcement and criminal interests.
Mexican authorities pledge thorough investigations and reaffirm commitments to combat corruption as new details unfold. Observers will be watching to see whether more licenses, operators, or officials emerge linked to organized crime.
Stay with Montana Insider for updates as this story develops and more facts become available on the influence of cartels in Mexico’s gaming industry and the implications for international regulatory standards.
