Mexico’s Casino Licensing Controversy: 20 New Permits Granted Amid Alleged Ties to Organized Crime
Mexico City — In the final months of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration, the Mexican government granted 20 new casino operating permits to a company linked to a businessman who has shared a gambling license with a family tied to a convicted crime leader. The approvals, issued in February 2024, have reignited concerns about regulatory oversight in Mexico’s gambling sector and potential connections between licensed operators and organized crime.
The permits were awarded to Compañía Operadora Clíe, S.A. De C.V., a firm whose majority shareholder, Nabor Castrejón Bailón, is also a partner in Purtech de México, which operates the Epic Casino in Zamora, Michoacán. Investigations by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI), a non-profit watchdog, reveal that both companies have used the same government-issued gambling license—DGJS/DGAAD/DCRCA/P-01/2017—to operate physical and online casinos across Mexico. This license has also been linked to businesses owned by the family of Hernán Bermúdez Requena, a former security official in Tabasco state who was later convicted as a leader of the criminal group La Barredora.
The revelations come at a time when Mexico’s gambling industry remains under scrutiny for its regulatory vulnerabilities. While the government has denied any wrongdoing, the case underscores longstanding concerns about the transparency of casino licensing and the potential for criminal infiltration in a sector that generates billions of pesos annually.
The Permits and the Companies Involved
The 20 new casino permits were granted on February 1, 2024, by the Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (DGJS), a division of Mexico’s Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB), which oversees gambling regulation. The approvals were issued in compliance with a contencioso administrativo (administrative litigation) ruling, according to documents obtained by MCCI. At the time, Luisa María Alcalde, now the leader of the ruling Morena party, served as Secretary of Gobernación.
Compañía Operadora Clíe was incorporated in Mexico with two registered shareholders: Viridiana Jocelyn Nova Isidro, identified in corporate filings as a nurse, and Nabor Castrejón Bailón, the majority stakeholder. Castrejón is also a partner in Purtech de México, which operates the Epic Casino in Zamora, Michoacán. The casino’s promotional materials prominently display the DGJS/DGAAD/DCRCA/P-01/2017 license, which was originally granted in May 2017 to Operadora de Coincidencias Numéricas, S.A. De C.V., a company established in Tulancingo, Hidalgo in 2011.
According to MCCI’s investigation, this same license has been used by multiple gambling operators, including online platforms such as CrownCity and CityBets, which are owned by Controladora de Inversiones y Promociones del Sureste. This company lists Humberto Bermúdez Requena, the brother of Hernán Bermúdez Requena, as a shareholder. The incorporation of Controladora de Inversiones was notarized by Adán Augusto López, a senator from Morena and a former governor of Tabasco, as reported by MCCI in July 2025.
The Bermúdez Family’s Controversial Role
Hernán Bermúdez Requena, a former Secretary of Public Security in Tabasco, was arrested in 2023 and later convicted for his leadership role in La Barredora, a criminal organization linked to drug trafficking and extortion in southern Mexico. His brother, Humberto Bermúdez Requena, has been identified as a shareholder in gambling businesses that have used the same DGJS/DGAAD/DCRCA/P-01/2017 license as Compañía Operadora Clíe and Purtech de México.
The shared use of a single gambling license by multiple operators—including those with alleged ties to organized crime—has raised questions about the oversight of Mexico’s gambling sector. While the government has stated that the 20 permits were granted in compliance with a court order, critics argue that the case highlights systemic weaknesses in the licensing process, particularly regarding the vetting of applicants and the monitoring of license transfers.
In a statement to El Norte, SEGOB acknowledged the issuance of the 20 permits but denied any improper connections to the Bermúdez family. The agency emphasized that the approvals were made in accordance with judicial resolutions and that no evidence of wrongdoing had been found in the licensing process. Though, the statement did not address the broader concerns about the shared use of the DGJS/DGAAD/DCRCA/P-01/2017 license by multiple operators, including those linked to the Bermúdez family.
Mexico’s Gambling Regulation: A History of Controversy
Mexico’s gambling industry has long been a source of controversy, with critics alleging that lax regulation has allowed criminal organizations to infiltrate the sector. The country’s gambling laws, which were significantly reformed in 2004 and again in 2013, grant SEGOB the authority to issue and oversee gambling permits. However, enforcement has been inconsistent, and concerns about corruption within regulatory bodies have persisted.
In 2020, the Mexican government temporarily suspended all gambling operations as part of COVID-19 lockdown measures. When casinos were allowed to reopen, the sector faced renewed scrutiny over its compliance with health protocols and its vulnerability to money laundering. The current controversy over the 20 permits granted to Compañía Operadora Clíe is the latest in a series of scandals that have plagued Mexico’s gambling industry.
One of the most high-profile cases involved Juan José Rojas Cardona, a businessman with alleged ties to organized crime who was granted multiple casino licenses during the administration of former President Enrique Peña Nieto. Rojas Cardona was later arrested in 2019 on charges of money laundering and organized crime, further damaging public trust in the regulatory process.
What Happens Next?
The Mexican government has not announced any plans to review or revoke the 20 permits granted to Compañía Operadora Clíe. However, the case is likely to remain under scrutiny as President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration continues to navigate the complexities of Mexico’s gambling sector. Civil society organizations, including MCCI, have called for greater transparency in the licensing process and stricter oversight of license transfers to prevent criminal infiltration.
For now, the next official checkpoint in this case will be the release of any further investigative findings by MCCI or other watchdog groups. The Mexican government has not scheduled any public hearings or regulatory reviews related to the permits, but pressure from lawmakers and civil society could prompt additional scrutiny in the coming months.
Key Takeaways
- 20 new casino permits were granted in February 2024 to Compañía Operadora Clíe, a company linked to a businessman who shares a gambling license with operators tied to the Bermúdez family.
- The DGJS/DGAAD/DCRCA/P-01/2017 license, originally granted in 2017, has been used by multiple operators, including businesses owned by Humberto Bermúdez Requena, brother of convicted crime leader Hernán Bermúdez Requena.
- The Mexican government has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the permits were issued in compliance with a court order, but critics argue that the case highlights systemic weaknesses in the licensing process.
- Mexico’s gambling sector has a history of controversy, with past scandals involving alleged ties between licensed operators and organized crime.
- Civil society organizations are calling for greater transparency and stricter oversight to prevent criminal infiltration of the industry.
FAQ
What is the DGJS/DGAAD/DCRCA/P-01/2017 license?
This represents a gambling license issued by Mexico’s Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (DGJS) in May 2017. It has been used by multiple operators, including Compañía Operadora Clíe, Purtech de México, and businesses linked to the Bermúdez family.
Who is Hernán Bermúdez Requena?
Hernán Bermúdez Requena is a former Secretary of Public Security in Tabasco who was convicted in 2023 for his leadership role in the criminal organization La Barredora. His brother, Humberto Bermúdez Requena, has been identified as a shareholder in gambling businesses that have used the same license as Compañía Operadora Clíe.
Why is this case significant?
The case raises concerns about the transparency and oversight of Mexico’s gambling sector, particularly the potential for criminal organizations to infiltrate licensed operations. It also highlights the risks associated with the shared use of gambling licenses by multiple operators.
What has the Mexican government said about the permits?
The government has stated that the 20 permits were granted in compliance with a court order and that no evidence of wrongdoing has been found. However, it has not addressed the broader concerns about the shared use of the DGJS/DGAAD/DCRCA/P-01/2017 license by multiple operators, including those linked to the Bermúdez family.
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