Gaming establishments in Mexico allege regulatory body of gambling is extorting them
In a column published on March 24, 2022, financial analyst Darío Celis raised concerns about potential extortion activities within the General Directorate of Games and Sweepstakes (DGJS) in Mexico. However, as of June 2024, no widely reported incident or official action involving such a scandal has been documented.
The focus of the allegations is the DGJS, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the gaming industry in Mexico. The chairman of the DGJS is Manuel Marcué Díaz. If casino owners do not pay the demanded sum, they face potential fines or closure of their businesses for three years. The amounts requested reportedly reach into the seven-digit range in Mexican pesos.
The COVID-19 crisis has already caused significant economic impact on the gaming industry, with reported drops in revenue of up to 20 billion pesos (US$1 billion) per year. The extortion plan, if true, further threatens the industry's stability.
Some casino owners in Mexico have accused the DGJS of extortion. They claim that in exchange for "operating without pressure," casino owners are asked to pay large sums of money. The extortion agents are said to target casino centers such as Monterrey and Guadalupe, including Hipódromo de Las Américas, Apuestas Internacionales, Divertimex, Ganador Azteca, El Palacio de los Números, and Pur Umazal Tov, as well as several online casinos.
One of the affected casinos is the Big Bola online casino, which reopened partially last week after being forced to close temporarily by the DGJS. It is unclear if this was due to the casino owner caving to the demand or another reason. Approximately 30 active licenses in the Mexican gaming industry are worried about potential repercussions for not giving in to the extortion demands.
The gaming industry in Mexico accounts for 45,000 direct jobs and another 130,000 indirect positions. These numbers are likely to fall unless action is taken to address the allegations of extortion.
For those seeking updates on a recent Mexico gaming industry scandal or DGJS investigation, it is recommended to monitor official Mexican government announcements, credible news outlets specializing in Mexico's regulatory affairs, or gaming industry trade publications for the latest verified information.
The alleged extortion activities implicate the DGJS, the regulatory body overseeing the gaming industry in Mexico, where casino owners are said to be demanded large sums of money for "operating without pressure." This potentially threatening issue has been reportedly targeted at casino centers such as Monterrey and Guadalupe, including Hipódromo de Las Américas, Apuestas Internacionales, Divertimex, Ganador Azteca, El Palacio de los Números, and Pur Umazal Tov, as well as several online casinos.
In the wake of these accusations, the focus has shifted to the casino-and-gambling sector in Mexico, given the potential extortion plan's impact on the industry's stability and the number of active licenses concerned about repercussions for not complying with the demands.
