The US government says a casino operating just across the border from Laredo and advertises in the US to draw in Americans is one of two casinos in Tamaulipas state “operated by Cartel del Noreste (CDN), one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organizations.”
“Casino Centenario,” located just two miles across the border from Laredo, and “Diamante Casino” in Tampico, Mexico, have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, which prohibits transactions (like bets) between the casinos & U.S. citizens.
The Nuevo Laredo casino regularly advertises in the U.S. to lure American gamblers to make the short drive across the border to place bets there. It buys space on US billboards and has participated in the “Business Expo Laredo” to drum up traffic from Texas.
“Casino Centenario is utilized by CDN as a stash house for fentanyl pills and cocaine, as well as a vehicle to launder illicit proceeds and integrate them into the legitimate financial system through its gaming operations. CDN also uses the backrooms of Casino Centenario to torture and intimidate alleged enemies of the cartel. Many CDN members also frequent Casino Centenario.” -US Treasury Dept. News Release
The Treasury Department says “CDN, previously known as Los Zetas, was identified by the United States as a specially designated foreign narcotics trafficker on April 15, 2009, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated CDN as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).”
“CDN is primarily based in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. For decades, CDN has been involved in the trafficking of narcotics and other illicit drugs, including fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. CDN is involved in violent criminal activity on both sides of the border, including the kidnapping and killing of individuals that threaten their criminal enterprise on the southern border. With a stronghold in Nuevo Laredo, CDN uses its terror-fueled influence in the region to control drug trafficking and human smuggling routes, bribe politicians and journalists, and extort local businesses and shipments flowing to and from the United States at the busiest inland point of entry for trade in the United States.” -US Treasury Department News Release
The sanctions preventing U.S. citizens from transacting with the Nuevo Laredo casino also apply to “Diamante Casino,” 300 miles further south of the border.
Three Mexican citizens (including one now in US custody) have also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department.
UPDATE: The Mexican Government has since announced that they have closed the Nuevo Laredo & Tampico casinos that the US Treasury Department linked to the CDN:
This isn’t the first time the US has targeted Mexican Casinos with suspected ties to a Mexican cartel. Last year, the US government issued sanctions against ten other casinos in four Mexican states, accused of money laundering for the Sinaloa Cartel.
Would you visit a casino in Mexico?
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Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Jack, those Cartels are so dangerous. How can USA citizens patronize their Casinos? Jack, thank you for alerting us Patriots about the dangers of frequenting their Casinos.
Nah. I sated my curiosity about casinos ten years ago in South Africa. Lost $5. I'm good!