Mexico’s Interior Ministry Grants 20 Casino Licenses to Firm Tied to Embattled Ex-Official
Mexico City — Mexico’s Interior Ministry (Segob) confirmed Tuesday that it issued 20 casino operating licenses in 2024 to a company linked to the family of Hernán Bermúdez Requena, a former security official now facing criminal charges. The licenses, granted during the final year of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency, remain valid until 2039, raising questions about oversight in the country’s gambling sector.
The permits were awarded to Operadora Clíe, a firm investigators say has ties to businesses previously associated with Bermúdez Requena, who served as Tabasco’s security secretary. Bermúdez is currently under investigation for alleged criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and extortion.
Segob acknowledged the licenses were approved under a court order, a claim that shifts scrutiny to the judiciary. The ministry’s statement comes as Mexican watchdog group Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI) published findings detailing the connections between Operadora Clíe and the Bermúdez family’s gambling enterprises.
A Controversial Timeline The licenses were finalized in February 2024, when Luisa María Alcalde led Segob. Alcalde, now Mexico’s labor secretary, has denied any wrongdoing, stating in a recent interview, “Although it pains them, I have no price.” She emphasized that the permits were issued under judicial mandate, not administrative discretion.
Operadora Clíe’s majority owner, Nabor Castrejón, previously held a license used by platforms connected to Bermúdez Requena’s family, according to MCCI’s investigation. The report suggests the 20 new licenses were granted despite these existing ties, a decision critics argue bypassed standard vetting procedures.
Legal and Political Fallout The case underscores longstanding concerns about regulatory gaps in Mexico’s casino industry, where licensing decisions often intersect with political influence. With the permits locked in until 2039, the controversy is likely to persist as Bermúdez’s legal battles unfold.
Segob has not responded to requests for further clarification on the judicial order’s specifics or whether additional safeguards were considered before approval. Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers have called for hearings to examine the ministry’s role in the process.
For now, the licenses stand, leaving Operadora Clíe positioned to expand its gambling operations across Mexico—even as the shadow of corruption allegations lingers over its backers.
