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A growing scandal regarding the casino licensing regime in Mexico has hit the national headlines. Congressman Octavio Martínez Vargas called for the launch of an urgent investigation into permits renewed to conduct gaming activities under the tenure of Adán Augusto López Hernández as head of Segob, Mexico’s powerful Interior Ministry.
The call for investigation follows investigative news website Emeequis’s release of a detailed report connecting a chain of casino renewal permits to a company said to be affiliated with crime gangs and political allies in Tabasco, López’s home state.
Licenses Given to Fugitive’s Brother Raise Concerns
In the background of the probe is Humberto Bermúdez Requena, a brother of Hernán Bermúdez, former Secretary of Public Security of Tabasco and current fugitive with serious charges against him, such as organized crime. Emeequis states that Humberto Bermúdez was granted a new license to operate casinos by a company named Controladora de Promociones e Inversiones del Sureste, established directly with the participation of López himself.
There are reports that in 2017, López properly registered the founding act of the company while employed as a notary public at Villahermosa. The same firm later joined forces with Pool Umasal Top and acquired a license to operate in gaming through a legitimate approach that mirrors new casino openings with the use of pre-existing licenses.
In October 2022, when López was Secretary of the Interior, Segob’s General Directorate of Gaming and Lotteries, a division under his direct control, issued a 10-year renewal of that permit, which is current until 2039.
Timeline Raises Questions
Investigative journalist Jorge García Orozco, the author of the Emeequis report, pointed to the chilling overlap: “First, he helped the firm consolidate as a notary, and later, as the top federal official, gave them a ten-year extension. It is not an acquaintance, it’s a relationship of confidence.”
López, now a senator and ex-governor of Tabasco, brushed aside personal acquaintances with Bermúdez as “a career policeman.” But García reveals documents contradicting this assertion, casting doubt on López’s aloofness from the people and the decision-making process.
Congressman Calls for Legal Action and Institutional Inspection
Mexico State Deputy Octavio Martínez Vargas made a formal request for an investigation by the federal and state governments. He said if the allegations are true, López ought to step down from his current legislative roles.
“We must implement the law impartially“, Martínez said. “Failing to investigate would undermine the federal government’s stance on anti-corruption. Justice must be equal and swift.”
He also warned that further legal inaction risks perpetuating a culture of impunity that undermines democratic institutions and depletes public trust.
Broader Concerns regarding Licensing Transparency in the Gaming Sector
Martínez declared that this case is part of a widespread concern regarding regulatory loopholes and corruption in the gambling industry in Mexico. According to the deputy’s opinion, there is mounting evidence of an extended network of politicians, businessmen, and criminal groups that have gained from the licensing process.
He promised to continue advocating for regulatory reforms in the casino and gambling businesses on both the state and federal levels. “Casino licenses must rest on law, not politics or friendship“, he emphasized.
The congressman also demanded a rigorous scrutiny of all the casino licenses issued during earlier administrations, asserting that this phenomenon is comparable to aberrations revealed under past presidential terms.
As the narrative proceeds, the light shines brighter on Segob’s practices of oversight and pressure to deliver accountability in an industry long plagued by secrecy and scandals.
Source: YogoNet
