Sonora Casinos Under Scrutiny for Tax Issues in Mexico
In the vibrant state of Sonora, Mexico, the gambling sector has been growing steadily. With over $2 billion worth of online market in 2020 and 33 licensed casinos, the industry has been a significant contributor to the local economy. However, recent developments have cast a shadow over this thriving sector.
Last year, it was reported that some casinos in Sonora did not comply with their tax obligations, resulting in an estimated loss of $11.9 million in tax revenue. To address this issue, the Sonora government has implemented new fiscal measures aiming to increase tax revenue from gambling halls to $48.6 million in 2022, representing a potential increase of up to 400%.
The city of Hermosillo, with its 12 game rooms, has the largest number of casinos in Sonora. However, the fiscal situation of these establishments is currently under scrutiny, with the government planning to investigate their accounting practices this year. The audits by the Ministry of Finance will focus on tax collection and other tax matters, as well as the relationship between the government and casinos, covering the fiscal periods between 2015 and 2021.
The casinos in Sonora are not taking these developments lightly. They argue that the government's actions are disrupting their recovery process just as their operations were beginning to return to normal following the COVID crisis, during which casinos were closed or operating under attendance restrictions for almost a year, severely affecting their revenues.
There have been accusations of wrongdoing against gaming regulators at various levels, including allegations of extortion of casinos by the General Directorate of Games and Sweepstakes. However, no verified or detailed information is currently available that links gaming regulators in Sonora directly to extortion or forced payments from casinos.
The article was first posted on May 5, 2022, and last updated on June 23, 2025. The casinos in Sonora continue to face increased scrutiny over their accounting practices, and the audits could potentially uncover damaging findings if casinos attempted to manipulate their books during the period under investigation.
As the situation unfolds, it is essential to keep an eye on ongoing investigations and official announcements for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
In the ongoing investigations of gaming establishments in Sonora, the focus includes scrutinizing lotteries, casino-games, and casino-culture, aiming to ensure responsible-gambling and follow fiscal laws. The casinos, under the blanket of increased scrutiny, maintain concerns that these audits might disrupt their recovery, impeding their post-COVID revival.
