United States, in its most recent action, sanctioned six entities that, according to its investigations, are part of a money laundering and cash smuggling network operated by the Northeast Cartel (CDN), a criminal organization with a strong presence in northeastern Mexico and border areas with Texas.
Read more Spain strengthens control over digital gaming among minors amid increased youth participation
Among the designated entities are two casinos located in the state of Tamaulipas. Their inclusion on the sanctions list implies the freezing of assets under U.S. jurisdiction and the prohibition for any person or company linked to that country from conducting transactions with them. In practice, being on the OFAC list means exclusion from the international financial system.
Casino Centenario and CAMSA: the focus of accusations in the United States
The center of the investigation is Casino Centenario, operated by the company Comercializadora y Arrendadora de México (CAMSA). According to OFAC, the establishment was used by the CDN as a channel to integrate illicit profits into the formal financial system through gaming operations, a classic laundering mechanism where criminally sourced money is mixed with legitimate flows from a cash-intensive activity.
The Treasury Department also directly accuses CAMSA of having provided material assistance, sponsorship, and financial support to the Northeast Cartel. The formulation is relevant: this is not an accusation of negligence or lack of controls, but of alleged active collaboration with the criminal organization.
The group’s exposure is not limited to a single establishment. CAMSA also operates the Diamante Casino, also in Tamaulipas, and an online casino platform under the same name, both equally under scrutiny by U.S. authorities.
Mexico’s UIF detected irregularities on multiple fronts
The Mexican response was swift. The Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) of the Ministry of Finance reported that it conducted a financial, tax, and corporate analysis of the designated entities, whose results revealed a unified business structure with multiple irregularities.
Investigators identified international transfers to high-risk jurisdictions, as well as a pattern of inconsistencies difficult to justify within legality.
Read more Indonesia intensifies its offensive against illegal gambling and blocks 1,000 bank accounts
Among the main findings are:
- Significant discrepancies between operated amounts and declared income.
- Movements of large volumes of cash incompatible with the reported activity.
- Possible tax evasion schemes due to non-compliance with tax obligations.
- Patterns associated with vulnerable activities in the gaming and lottery sector, allegedly used for money laundering.
Immediate suspension: casinos close by order of the State
The consequences were not limited to the judicial level. The Ministry of Finance of Mexico executed the suspension of activities of Casino Centenario and Diamante Casino, and notified CAMSA of the prohibition to continue operating in the gaming and lottery sector.
The measure implies the immediate closure of physical establishments and, presumably, the interruption of the digital platform.
The coordination between the UIF, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Attorney General’s Office reflects a comprehensive approach: while the criminal route advances with complaints, the administrative route ensures the immediate cessation of operations, without waiting for the timelines of a prolonged judicial process.
The casino as a front: a method that is not new
The use of gaming establishments to launder money is a widely documented practice globally. The logic is known: casinos handle large volumes of cash, transactions are difficult to trace individually, and the business dynamics facilitate the mixing of lawful and unlawful funds.
In Mexico, the sector has been pointed out on various occasions as a possible laundering channel. However, coordinated actions of this magnitude between U.S. and Mexican authorities are not common.
The case of CAMSA and the Northeast Cartel reopens an uncomfortable debate for the industry: the need to strengthen controls, transparency, and supervision in an environment where the line between legal activity and illicit financing can become blurred.
Read more Hong Kong pauses basketball betting amid the rise of prediction markets
