The World Series of Poker has confirmed the postponement of its upcoming WSOP International Circuit stop in Monterrey, Mexico, which was originally scheduled to run October 11-23, 2022. The stop was scheduled to be held at Cintermex Convention Center of Monterrey, but was postponed due to recent clarifications by Mexican authorities regarding the use of a venue not normally designated for gambling for such an event.
A brief message on WSOP.mx mentioned the government advisory. "The WSOP-C Mexico tournament is rescheduled following government recommendations to be held at casino facilities," it stated. "In 2023 we will host this great event at Jubilee, the home of WSOP in Mexico."
The WSOP has yet to specify the exact dates in 2023 when the Jubilee-hosted event will run, but the reference to Jubilee Casino as the Mexican "home of the WSOP" implies that the shift from Cintermex will be permanent.
The Cintermex Convention Center and the Jubilee Casino are only minutes apart in the heart of Monterrey. In October 2019, the Cintermex venue hosted the last WSOP-C Mexico stop. That series offered six ring events, with four of the six events being won by players from Mexico, including the Main Event won by Roberto Borrego. American Circuit regulars Matt Woodward and Michael Lech claimed the series' other two rings.
The WSOP has hoped to build the Monterrey stop into a popular and recurring destination, not only for Mexico's pros, but also for numerous U.S.-based Circuit grinders, particularly from Texas and the U.S. Gulf Coast. Monterrey is situated less than a two-hour drive south of the Mexico-U.S. border.
However, despite a prominent online-poker history, live-tournament poker has struggled to establish a true footprint in the country. The regulatory issues indirectly mentioned in the WSOP.mx statement are not the first time a planned poker event in Mexico has run afoul of the country's federal or state authorities amid changing or unclear policies.
Featured image source: WSOP.mx
