Casino operators have been awaiting a green light from Mexican legislators for more than a decade, to no avail. In the meantime, in the grey area surrounding other gambling operations, the electronic bingo machines known as yaks are proliferating and an estimated 70,000 slot machines are functioning illegally.
In June last year the outgoing Minister of the Interior controversially authorized 130 licences for betting shops and remote gambling permits, including 65 to media giant Televisa. A new gambling law is still at the discussion stage in the legislature, with no signs that the issue will be resolved soon.
In a report from The Brownsville Herald, the vagaries of Mexico’s gambling scenario are once again highlighted. Despite recent reports that US businessman James Vann was running Viva Las Vegas slot machine venues in Matamoros and Nuevo Progreso, just across the border from Brownsville, it now appears neither operation is open. The first Viva Las Vegas, in Nuevo Progreso, is presently closed for lack of a transformer according to the newspaper report. The second Viva Las Vegas in Matamoros also has electrical problems and has missed it scheduled debut.
The local municipality is not sure where a licence to operate was obtained, if it was. Investigations into the matter have now begun.
Will the plans for Russia's 'remote' gaming areas go ahead as the State Duma has described?
- 22 - 23 October, 2008
The Betting Show 2008 - UK - 17 - 20 November, 2008
Global Gaming Expo - USA - 27 - 29 January, 2009
International Casino Exhibition 2009 - UK
