Mexico Regulator Rejects Claims of Crime-Linked Casino Licences
MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s gambling regulator has rejected claims that casino licences were granted to a company linked to an alleged criminal figure, following reports that triggered a dispute across the country’s gaming sector.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB) said the licences referenced in recent media coverage were issued only after a court order, pushing back against allegations that 20 permits had been improperly authorised.
Dispute over Licence Claims
The controversy emerged after a report suggested that multiple casino licences had been granted to a company connected to the family of Hernán Bermúdez Requena, a former state security official who is currently detained and facing criminal charges.
Bermúdez Requena has been accused of ties to organised crime, including alleged links to the group La Barredora, which authorities say operates as part of a wider cartel structure.
SEGOB stated that the licences in question were awarded through a legal process involving the Metropolitan Regional Chamber of Administrative Justice. According to the regulator, the permits were not freely granted but issued in compliance with a court ruling.
The authority also said the casinos referenced in the reports have not begun operations and that certain licences have already been suspended.
Related: Mexico Suspends 13 Casinos Citing International Money-Laundering Allegations
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Clarifications on Licence Scope
Officials added that the licences were not controlled by a single company, contradicting claims that one entity had been granted broad operational rights. Instead, they said the permits were tied to separate entities under existing regulatory structures.
Former interior minister Luisa María Alcalde also addressed the claims, stating that the company linked to Bermúdez Requena’s family had originally received a single licence in 2017.
She explained that additional permits were later issued only after legal action against the regulator, which resulted in a court order requiring SEGOB to grant approvals under specific conditions. Those conditions limited the scope of the licences and excluded key gambling activities such as slot machines and table games.
Alcalde said the restrictions reduced the commercial viability of the licences and that they have not been actively used.
Industry Response
The Association of Licence Holders, Operators and Suppliers of the Entertainment and Gaming Industry (AIEJA) backed the regulator’s position, calling for accurate reporting and greater attention to documented facts.
The group said public discussion of licensing decisions should reflect the legal framework governing the sector, noting that the industry operates under ongoing supervision and regulatory oversight.
The dispute highlights ongoing scrutiny around licensing practices in Mexico’s gambling market, particularly when allegations intersect with broader concerns about governance and transparency.
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