Mexican Government Reviews Casino Regulations, Vows Transparency
The head of the Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB), Rosa Icela Rodríguez, stated that no new casino permits have been granted during Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration as president. She also noted that during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term, some permits were issued, but only due to court orders.
“In the previous administration, there were some [permits], but not because the secretaries [of the Interior] or those in charge [of the General Directorate of Games and Sweepstakes] wanted to grant these permits; they were court orders,” the official explained during the presidential morning press conference on Tuesday the 20th.
When questioned by the press about these permits granted at the end of the previous government, she responded: “We are still investigating how they were given and what the actions were; that is, it is not a defined thing, because no new ones have been opened. Many times they request them and leave them there for speculation. […] Yes, indeed, in this administration there are several investigations into several cases that have occurred.”
Meeting with Operators
The Secretary of the Interior also reported that, days prior, she met with business owners in the gaming industry to evaluate a new law to modernize the current Games and Sweepstakes Law. She detailed that they were informed that this possibility is being analyzed and that, in any case, it could occur in September or October of this year.
“We told them that we were going to review the law, because it is one of their requests, given that the law dates back to 1947; and that the government has a special interest in regularizing, let’s say, the issue of injunctions and many more, because what we want is income for the government coffers,” Rosa Icela Rodríguez elaborated.
Furthermore, during this meeting, she warned the operators that “she would not tolerate any act of corruption with officials” and that, if any case is proven, the corresponding complaints will be filed against these companies and actions will be taken against the officials. “I told them that corruption was over, that we have no interests in casinos, much less. And that no new permits would be allowed either,” she asserted at the press conference.
Finally, she requested that casino operators pay their taxes on time and asked for greater transparency. “Yes, let’s walk towards non-corruption. You will not be, on the part of the Federal Government, with intermediaries, people who go in my representation. I have no representatives, I have no intermediaries, let’s review the law, but we do want you to pay your taxes. So, that was the agreement. And the law is being reviewed, and we hope to have a proposal by September, October,” she affirmed.
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