Mexico City - The former Mexican Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB) intends to turn Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Peñasco into shining examples of gambling and entertainment resort areas in Mexico.

Marcela González Salas, who until last week was SEGOB's General Director of Gaming, explained that in Puerto Peñasco they want to take advantage of its proximity to the United States to attract more customers, while in Nuevo Vallarta potential casinos go hand-in-hand with the arrival of the Cirque du Soleil Theme Park, which is expected to open in 2018.

"There should be casino resort areas, complete with entertainment centers, sports arenas, first class hotels, convention centers," she said.

González Salas left office last Friday to be included on the list of candidates of PRI deputies. According to her, this change in direction will not affect these plans, as in the interim they will fall into the hands of the deputy general manager of operations, Marcos García Hernández.

Miguel Angel Ochoa, the president of Mexico's Association of Licensees, Operators and Providers of Entertainment & Betting Games Industry (AIEJA), indicated that casino operators are more interested in setting up shop in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur and Cancun, Quintana Roo.