Bet365 and Betano websites blocked in Mexico as part of money laundering investigation

Major brands have ceased operations in the country after their local operators, part of Grupo Salinas, were added to the list of blocked entities.

The UIF Financial Intelligence Unit linked the platforms' activities to a large-scale scheme to launder money from drug trafficking. As part of the case, 13 online casinos and physical establishments were blocked. Access to the sites and applications was blocked, and settlement operations were suspended.

The investigation revealed that online betting was used to legalize the proceeds of one of Mexico's largest drug cartels, Cártel de Sinaloa. Financial transactions through Bet365 and Betano were processed by Grupo Salinas structures, linking the platforms to cash flows in casinos. This allowed large sums of money to be split and their origin concealed through cross-border transfers and foreign payment systems.

According to UIF and SHCP, the scheme worked as follows: fake players opened accounts and accounts, cash receipts were inflated, and funds flowed through affiliated companies and international transfers between Mexico, the United States, Canada, Belize, Panama, Romania, Poland, and Albania. Cash was accepted at offline venues, split through online betting and withdrawn abroad.