Mexico's Gov to appeal ruling allowing casino reopening
The Mexican Government confirmed that it will challenge the judicial ruling that allowed the provisional reopening of several casinos linked to the Grupo Salinas, closed in November following an investigation by the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) for alleged money laundering operations.
The Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) filed an appeal with the corresponding authority, seeking to reverse the measure of the federal judge Francisco Javier Rebolledo Peña, who had granted an injunction to the company Ganador Azteca S.A. de C.V., operator of Bet365 and Betano in Mexico. The judicial decision ordered the restoration of the casinos' operation, the unblocking of domains, and the temporary suspension of administrative restrictions applied by the Government.
Presidential support and grounds for the appeal
President Claudia Sheinbaum fully supported SEGOB’s action.
“From our perspective, there was no reason to reverse the closure, and that is why the Ministry of the Interior has challenged the ruling,” she stated during her conference at the National Palace.
The Executive maintains that the provisional reopening contradicts the evidence presented by the Treasury and the UIF, which documented cash movements difficult to justify, irregular international flows, and the use of unsupervised platforms, all typical indicators of laundering schemes.
Judicial schedule and next steps
The legal dispute will continue on December 8, when the Judiciary will decide whether to grant a final suspension to the company of magnate Ricardo Salinas Pliego.
The substantive ruling will be issued in January 2026, a key moment to define the future of the casinos involved.
The origin of the case: 13 casinos under investigation
The initial operation by the Ministry of Treasury detected irregularities in 13 establishments located in:
- Jalisco
- Nuevo León
- Sinaloa
- Sonora
- Baja California
- State of Mexico
- Chiapas
- Mexico City
These gaming halls were closed following suspicions that they were used to disperse funds, move capital between jurisdictions, and operate digital betting systems without regulatory supervision.
A case that will set a precedent
The appeal filed by SEGOB not only seeks to halt the provisional reopening but also to establish a precedent regarding the regulatory limits of the sector and the scope of financial control measures in activities considered high risk for money laundering.
Tags: Mexico, illegal betting Mexico, online casinos Mexico, SEGOB, Ganador Azteca SA