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Mexico court clears slot machines in casinos, overturning Segob limits

Federal ruling allows an operator to introduce slot machines and expand gaming offer despite previous restrictions.

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Mexico Judiciary
Key Points
Mexico’s Federal Court authorizes installation of slot machines across 20 licensed casinos
Decision overturns Segob restrictions that limited operations to table betting
Ruling could influence similar legal challenges across the sector

A federal court in Mexico has authorized the operation of slot machines in licensed casinos, overturning previous restrictions imposed by Mexico’s regulator, the Secretaría de Gobernación (Segob).

The decision grants Compañía Operadora Clíe permission to install slot machines and offer games such as cards, dice and roulette across 20 venues originally licensed during the previous administration. 

Under earlier conditions set by Segob, the operator had been limited to table betting, a restriction that reportedly prevented the casinos from becoming operational.

The ruling was confirmed by the Twelfth Collegiate Administrative Court, upholding an injunction previously granted by federal judge Gabriel Regis. The decision is final and cannot be appealed.

In its reasoning, the Court found that several provisions within the regulatory framework of Mexico’s Federal Law on Games and Sweepstakes imposed restrictions not explicitly established in the law itself. As a result, those limitations were deemed invalid.

The case follows a legal dispute that dates back several years. 

While the permits were granted in 2023 following a ruling by the Federal Administrative Justice Tribunal, Segob had maintained that they did not include authorization for slot machines or full casino operations.

Other operators, including Grupo Caliente and Operadora de Eventos Festivos de México, have reportedly secured similar legal protections using comparable arguments, suggesting the decision could have wider implications for the sector’s regulatory landscape.

Segob has previously disputed claims regarding the licensing of casinos linked to individuals connected to former public officials.

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