Grupo Caliente is one of the largest sports betting company in Mexico.[1] In 2024 Grupo Caliente owned around 200 "off-track 😄 betting and bookmaking outlets" in Mexico, Austria, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Caribbean.[2] Business divisions of 😄 Grupo Caliente include Globalsat, Caliente Estadio, Caliente Online, and Caliente Casino.[3] Owned Caliente Baja California, Caliente Casino is a chain 😄 of casinos operating mainly in the state of Baja California, Mexico,[4] where it is the exclusive operator of casinos in 😄 Tijuana.[5]
History [ edit ]
The company Grupo Caliente was first formed in 1916 when the early version of the Agua Caliente 😄 Racetrack was built in Tijuana. In 1998, Caliente began to diversify with the Spanish Codere Group. Bingo was introduced, then 😄 electronic game terminals, with 900 installed at the Agua Caliente Racetrack.[6] In 2014, the Desert Sun reported that "the Agua 😄 Caliente Casino and Resort in Tijuana, founded... in 1928, is thriving with customers from Southern California."[7] In 2024, the dog 😄 racing circuit was one of 20 tracks in seven US states and Tijuana - it was the lowest ranked track 😄 on the circuit, and the only location in Mexico. At the time, it had 375 dogs, down from 1,000 at 😄 its zenith.[8]
The company has collaborated with Euro Games Technology on electronic gaming lounges at the Hipódromo de Agua Caliente,[9] opened 😄 in 2024.[10] In 2024, some Caliente Casino machines were closed temporarily over debt to the city council in Ensenada.[11] As 😄 of 2024, owner of Casino Caliente was Jorge Alberto Hank Rhon, and it was the "biggest sports betting company in 😄 Mexico." The company still operated Caliente Stadium in Tijuana with 13,333 seats at its opening.[12] A one-time mayor of Tijuana, 😄 in January 2024, he started a campaign for governor of Baja California. At that time, Grupo Caliente owned around 200 😄 "off-track betting and bookmaking outlets throughout Mexico, Austria, Brazil, Equador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Caribbean."[2]