Mexican federal authorities have dismantled an illegal mini-casino in the municipality of Tuxpan, Veracruz, seizing 38 slot machines and MXN 44,000 ($2,490) in cash during a coordinated enforcement operation.
According to an official statement from the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), the raid was carried out following a citizen complaint alerting authorities to the operation of gaming machines near educational institutions in the municipal center. The case was investigated by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which subsequently requested and obtained a search warrant from a federal control judge.
The court-authorized search was executed by the Federal Ministerial Police, with support from personnel of the Secretariat of National Defense, the National Guard and the Veracruz State Police. During the operation, authorities secured the premises and confiscated the gaming machines and cash, which were placed under the custody of the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Mexican law restricts the operation of gaming establishments near schools, and authorities indicated that the location of the venue was a key factor in initiating the investigation. No individuals were detained during the raid.
The FGR confirmed that the seized equipment and funds remain under federal control while investigators continue to integrate the case file to establish accountability for the alleged illegal gaming activities.
The Tuxpan operation forms part of broader enforcement efforts in Veracruz, where federal and state authorities have intensified scrutiny of unauthorized gaming venues and establishments operating in breach of zoning and licensing regulations.
Under Mexico’s Federal Law of Games and Draws, gaming venues are prohibited from operating near schools or workplaces unless expressly authorised by Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB)
