Malta-linked casinos affected in Mexico’s alleged money-laundering probe

Several online casinos with ties to Malta have been reportedly affected after the Mexican government temporarily suspended 13 casinos in connection with an alleged irregular financial scheme linked to online gambling, according to federal authorities. The investigation is said to have uncovered a network of alleged cross-border money movements that may constitute breaches of anti–money laundering rules.

Among the affected operators are online betting companies bet365 and Betano, which operate in Mexico under the corporate names Ganadora Azteca and Operadora Ganadora TV Azteca – casinos allegedly linked to Grupo Salinas. Part of the allegedly laundered funds was reportedly sent to jurisdictions including Malta, Panama, Romania, Switzerland, the UAE, and the US, before returning to Mexico as apparently legitimate income. Betano stated that all customer balances are fully protected.

Alleged suspicious patterns

Authorities reportedly detected suspicious activity at the suspended casinos, including the alleged use of personal data obtained through deception or identity theft to channel funds into both physical and online gambling. Investigators claim that operators linked to the casinos allegedly used prepaid cards, digital codes, and unverified transfers, and recorded winnings that were never paid to purported players.

The Mexican federal administration has frozen related accounts while continuing to analyse structures allegedly designed to evade tax obligations.

Although the Government has not published the full list of affected operators, Grupo Salinas confirmed that two of its brands – Ganadora Azteca (bet365) and Operadora Ganadora TV Azteca (Betano.mx) – are among those suspended. The group denied any wrongdoing, stating that both subsidiaries comply with all legal requirements and sector regulations, and that it intends to challenge the measures in international forums.

President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that the actions were not politically motivated and were based on evidence collected over several months, noting that separate labour inspections of companies within the conglomerate were unrelated to the case.

The operation was reportedly conducted with support from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), reflecting growing cross-border cooperation on financial integrity within the gaming sector. On the same day, FinCEN allegedly identified 10 casinos in Sinaloa, Baja California, and Tabasco for money-laundering activities tied to the Sinaloa Cartel, and cut their access to the U.S. financial system.

Casinos allegedly identified by FinCEN include:

• Emine Casino (San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora)
• Casino Mirage (Culiacán, Sinaloa)
• Midas Casino (Agua Prieta, Sonora)
• Midas Casino (Guamúchil, Sinaloa)
• Midas Casino (Los Mochis, Sinaloa)
• Midas Casino (Mazatlán, Sinaloa)
• Midas Casino (Rosarito, Baja California)
• Palermo Casino (Nogales, Sonora)
• Skampa Casino (Ensenada, Baja California)
• Skampa Casino (Villahermosa, Tabasco)
  

FinCEN alleges that these establishments are ultimately controlled by a criminal group facilitating money laundering for the Sinaloa Cartel, posing a national security concern for the US financial system. Director Andrea Gacki said that the Treasury and Mexican authorities are coordinating efforts to protect financial institutions from illicit activity, and that FinCEN will continue to target the financing of transnational criminal organisations.