Mexico reactivates some casinos but maintains financial blockade
The conflict between the gaming industry and the Government of Mexico has entered a new stage: although the judiciary allowed the reactivation of some betting platforms linked to Ricardo Salinas Pliego, financial investigations continue and the group's accounts remain frozen.
Judge enables the online return of operators, but does not release the funds
In a ruling that surprised the sector, the Sixth District Judge in Administrative Matters temporarily lifted restrictions on Ganador Azteca and ordered NIC México to restore the domains bet365.mx and betano.mx, both integrated into TV Azteca’s digital operation.
However, the technical enablement does not imply a full return: one day earlier, Judge Luz María Flores Alva rejected the request to unfreeze the conglomerate’s bank accounts, leaving the online platforms active again, but without real capacity to operate financially.
The judicial suspension is limited to halting the administrative effects that had taken the domains offline. The money, on the other hand, remains withheld under suspicion of money laundering, the central axis of the confrontation between Salinas Pliego and the federal administration.
Government tightens control: 13 casinos suspended for suspicious operations
While the legal battle advances, the Ministry of the Interior (Segob), supported by reports from the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) and the Ministry of Finance, expanded the regulatory clampdown and ordered the suspension of 13 casinos, including physical establishments and online platforms.
The investigation detected:
- Unusual capital flows
- Unjustified cash transactions
- Atypical international movements
- Use of digital platforms without proper supervision
According to the official statement, the measure seeks to “protect the legality of the sector” in a market where the lack of transparency “opens doors to criminal organizations.”
From Grupo Salinas, however, the actions were interpreted as “political harassment” and they affirmed compliance with all regulatory requirements demanded by law.
Judicial pressure on Salinas Pliego does not relent
The scenario became even more complex this month, when the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) ruled against the businessman, forcing him to pay:
- More than 48 billion pesos for tax obligations
- 67 million more related to Nueva Elektra
- 580 million dollars owed to foreign creditors
The tension between the magnate and the Government thus adds a new chapter, while the reactivated platforms remain unable to move funds.
Joint Mexico–United States operation against illegal gambling
At the international level, pressure is increasing. The United States Department of the Treasury, through OFAC and FinCEN, launched a coordinated offensive with Mexico to dismantle the Hysa group and a network of casinos accused of laundering money for criminal organizations.
The actions included:
- Sanctions on 27 individuals and entities
- Restrictions to prevent 10 casinos from accessing the U.S. financial system
- Total blocking of assets linked to the network
FinCEN detailed that some investigated operators had used physical and online platforms to move and conceal funds in Mexico, the United States, Panama, Malta, Albania, and Romania.
The Ministry of Finance had already identified “unusually high” operations in 13 casinos across eight states, with typical patterns of money laundering.
Tags: Mexico, Blocked casinos, Bet365 Mexico, Betano Mexico, TV Azteca, bet365.mx, betano.mx