Supplier News
Mexico – Controversy as Saltillo casino plans to reopen
By Phil - 4 September 2013
News that operators plan to reopen a casino in the city of Saltillo has been greeted with fury by the local Mayor and has been greeted with mounting protests. According to Director of Public Relations Abraham Marcos the Circus Celebrity casino, which had been closed for a number of months, could reopen its doors to the public in the next eight to ten weeks.
The granting of additional gaming licenses have been banned by politicians in the state of Coahuila amongst growing concern over the widespread proliferation of gaming in the state while local politicians have been active in investigating licenses . However, Mr Marcos told press that the casino should be treated in the same way as other legitimate businesses in the state as the casino will employ 250 people and provide a further thousand indirect jobs.
The Circus Celebrity Casino has been granted protection by a local judge who has ruled that it may reopen its doors to the public in a development which was described by Governor Rubén Moreira as ‘very bad news.’ The governor went onto to say that casinos were ‘not welcome’ as ‘they do not provide employment, they take the money from locals and they put the population at risk. They pay taxes but the harm that gaming causes to the community outweighs the fiscal benefits.’ These sentiments were echoed by the major of Saltillo Jericó Abramo who said that he and his administration would do everything in their power to block the reopening in the local courts.
The announcement comes at a time of growing controversy when it comes to the relationship between local courts and casinos. In May a Special Investigative Commission in Mexico, which has been charged with delivering a report to the Chamber of Deputies and proposing legal measures, policies or legislation on the back of its findings, revealed that there could be at least 300 casinos in Mexico which remain open due to judicial stays of closures. The committee has described grants of closure and casinos as a “constant factor when it comes to litigation through federal courts” which could well point to additional proof of widespread corruption in the industry.
