Judge halts segob sanctions against Grupo Salinas casinos
The legal conflict between Grupo Salinas and the Government of Mexico adds a new chapter. A court in Mexico City has granted a provisional suspension in favor of Ganador Azteca (operator of Bet365 and Betano), temporarily halting the sanctions imposed by the Ministry of the Interior (Segob) against its iGaming platforms.
The ruling: Lack of administrative procedure
The Second District Judge, Germán Cruz Silva, admitted the extension of the amparo lawsuit filed by Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s conglomerate. The judge’s central argument is that, although the Regulation of the Federal Law on Games and Sweepstakes allows the suspension of functions in cases of legal violations, Segob would have acted "without following a prior administrative procedure".
This "procedural error" by the government authority has allowed the operators to obtain this legal reprieve, questioning the validity of the immediate enforcement of the sanctions.
Key dates for the future of Bet365 and Betano in Mexico
The process now enters a phase of critical decisions that the market must closely monitor:
- January 26, 2026: The court will decide whether to grant the definitive suspension, which could extend the inaction of the sanctions for months.
- February 9, 2026: Scheduled date for the constitutional hearing, where the legality of Segob’s actions will be discussed.
Information restriction remains
Despite this judicial advance, the situation for the end user does not change drastically. It is worth remembering that a previous December ruling only allows the domains to be visible for informational purposes.
Currently, Bet365.mx and Betano.mx are prohibited from:
- Operating live or pre-match gambling games.
- Functioning as a transactional online casino.
- Accepting deposits or processing bets of any kind.
Context: The clampdown by UIF and Segob
The dispute is not only administrative. The Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) maintains an open investigation against 13 casinos for alleged money laundering. While Segob argues that the suspension of operations seeks to "guarantee legality and user protection," Grupo Salinas defends the validity of its permits and the transparency of its financial flows.
Tags: Mexico, Grupo Salinas, Mexico Online Casinos, Casinos Grupo Salinas Mexico