Progreso, Yucatán — The tiny casino that closed after 10 days has re-opened.
Caribbean Casino, which popped up near the cruise ship dock while displacing a handicrafts market, announced its re-opening Tuesday, implying on social media that electrical problems caused its shutdown.
The closure took employees and crafts vendors by surprise. Some reportedly broke a lock to retrieve their goods. The casino’s sign was also taken down, and windows were papered.
An earlier sign of trouble was in the first couple of days of operation, when a patron who won 10,000 pesos had to wait two hours to collect his prize, according to Diario de Yucatán.
Neighbors and artisans gave Canal 10 various reasons: poor management, few customers and no official operating permit from the Ministry of the Interior.
Canal 10 also said the casino had the blessing of Progreso Mayor José Cortés Góngora.
Much about the casino remains an enigma. Its owner and operator are unknown, although local media report they are from Mexico City and Sinaloa, respectively.
On Facebook, the casino announced its return, with a free-roll tournament planned Thursday. Their operating hours are 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. daily.
The casino is crammed with slot machines, a sports betting zone and a cocktail lounge.
