In November 2023, then-President Andrés


Manuel López Obrador issued a decree banning slots in casinos and other gambling facilities. However, the reform was not retroactive, allowing casinos to continue using slot


machines until their permits expired. In Mexico, gambling licenses have a maximum validity of 15 years, after which they are ineligible for renewal or extension.


Casino licensing is once again causing controversy with the ex-head of Te Mexican Secretariat for Home Affairs (SEGOB) now caught in the spotlight. In recent months, Tabasco, a state in southeastern Mexico, has witnessed a surge in violence. Both local and federal authorities have linked this spike in insecurity to a criminal organisation called La Barredora. Te organisation has become widely known following the issuance of a red notice by Interpol for Hernán Bermúdez Requena, the former Secretary of Security of Tabasco, who has been identified by federal authorities as the alleged founder of the criminal group. He assumed office in 2019 under the administration of Adán


n January 2024 Noboa announced plans to launch a referendum on the issue but cancelled it in the same month. Initially, Noboa included the potential return of casinos, slot halls, and sports betting as one of eleven questions sent to the Constitutional Court for


approval. However, he later removed the question on gambling, stating that the timing for such a debate was inappropriate


diverse questions put forward to the Ecuadorian people in May 2011, was approved by a small majority. While it was initially believed that the casinos would be given a further two years to recuperate some of their investment, the ban went into effect in March 2012. Before the ban around 160 gambling halls operated in Ecuador, employing more than 25,000 people.


Augusto López Hernández, the current leader of the ruling Morena party in the senate and former head of SEGOB. SEGOB is responsible for granting casino licences. To make matters worse, a company connected to Bermúdez Requena’s brother renewed permits to operate casinos in October 2022 when López was Secretary of the Interior. In addition, there continues to be a level of uncertainty


regarding the future of slots in casinos. In November 2023, then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a decree banning slots in casinos and other gambling facilities. However, the reform was not retroactive, allowing casinos to continue using slot machines until their permits expired. In Mexico, gambling licenses have a maximum validity of 15 years, after which they are ineligible for renewal or extension. Tose licenses that had been granted but not yet activated were cancelled. Te 444 casinos in Mexico were permitted to operate slot machines only until their operating permits expired. Meanwhile, the 408 casinos with licenses that had not yet commenced operations were prohibited from operating slot machines altogether. However operators have been battling it out in the courts


137


MEXICO


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