State of Tamaulipas bans casinos

The regional government in Tamaulipas has approved legal reforms which prohibit the installation of any further casinos, betting shops or gambling parlours in the state.

With 31 votes in favour to four against, lawmakers in the State Congress approved the full bill put forward by Governor Francisco Garcia Cabeza de Vaca and endorsed the decree which would apply to all 43 municipalities in the state.

In order to impede the operation of casinos, betting centres and table dancing clubs, legislators reformed article 134 of the Political Constitution of the State of Tamaulipas, as well as a number of zoning laws and regulations concerning bars and other establishments licensed to serve alcohol.

According to the government, the ban is aimed at reducing organised crime and money laundering.

“[The initiative] is designed to inhibit any activity that causes insecurity in the state and a way to achieve this is to avoid the installation and operation of these types of establishments.” the bill stated.

Deputy Glafiro Salinas Mendiola questioned if the reforms would affect properties which opened prior to the ban.

Legislator Carlos Alberto García González, responded that table dancing clubs would be allowed to serve out their current licences but it is unclear if this also applies to the state’s casinos.

Located in North-eastern Mexico, Tamaulipas has a population of around 3.2 million, the state government initiated a major crackdown on illegal gaming last year, while in May local authorities confiscated 1,400 slot machines in four different casinos in the state.