2022-Caliente-letter-to-IGB

Aug 27, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel

Letter dated May 17, 2022 addressed to the Administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board. The authors urge reconsideration of a decision advancing an online-only sports wagering license application for Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp LLC, doing business as Caliente Interactive. The letter argues that Caliente Interactive is part of Grupo Caliente, associated with Jorge Hank Rhon, and cites publicly known allegations and regulatory concerns involving suitability, illegal activity allegations, animal welfare issues, investigations, and prior arrests and controversies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Letter to Illinois Gaming Board

Grounds for reconsidering the license application

Publicly cited facts and allegations

Request to reconsider and contact information

May 17, 2022 Marcus D. Fruchter, Administrator Illinois Gaming Board 160 North LaSalle Suite 300 Chicago, Illinois 60601 Dear Administrator Fruchter, We are writing to express our concern that the Illinois Gaming Board has advanced an application for online-only sports wagering by Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp LLC, DBACaliente Interactive.i Caliente Interactive is part of Grupo Caliente, a Mexican gambling company owned by notorious dog track owner Jorge Hank Rhon.ii Mr. Rhon has been surrounded by controversy for decades, therefore granting Grupo Caliente a license would harm the integrity of the Illinois Gaming Board and cast doubt on your effectiveness as a regulator. We are specifically concerned by the following publicly known facts regarding Mr. Rhon and Grupo Caliente: 1. The Nevada Gaming Control Board cited Grupo Caliente in three different public hearings relative to the licensing suitability of a gaming company in June 1997, as well as in connection with a second gaming company in October 2002. Effectively, the NGCB directed these gaming companies to conclude any current contracts they had with Grupo Caliente and not renew contracts.iii 2. According to a 2007 report prepared by the New York Office of the Inspector General, Grupo Caliente “has been the subject of numerous allegations of illegal activities.”Additionally, citing other sources, the report indicates that Mr. Rhon “has been suspected by U.S. law enforcement and Mexican authorities of illegal money laundering activities related to illicit drug trafficking, particularly with the Arellano Felix drug cartel based in Tijuana.”iv 3. On numerous occasions, Mr. Rhon has been linked to the trafficking of endangered wildlife. For example, in 1991 he was fined $25,000 after an individual attempted to cross the border with an endangered White Bengal Tiger cub that apparently had been born athis private zoo.v Similarly, in 1995 Mr. Rhon was arrested at a Mexican airport after customs officials searched him and discovered a trove of animal skins and ivory from endangered species. He was arrested in connection with the 1995 incident, but was later [acquitted.](acquitted.vi)[vi](acquitted.vi) 4. In 1988, a reporter named Hector “El Gato” Felix Miranda, who wrote for the newspaper Zeta, was assassinated on his way to work. Two Agua Caliente security guards were later 100 Maryland Avenue NE, Room 310, Washington, DC 20002 | (202) [567-6996 | StopPredatoryGambling.org](567-6996 | StopPredatoryGambling.org) convicted. Before his assassination, Miranda was researching allegations regarding Mr. Rhon’s personal drug use.vii 5. According to greyhound protection group GREY2K USA Worldwide, Mr. Rhon’s Tijuana dog track, Agua Caliente, has little to no animal welfare standards in place.viii 6. The Agua Caliente racetrack is connected to a current, ongoing investigation regarding the disappearance of one of Mr. Rhon’s employees.ix 7. Mr. Rhon was arrested and detained by the federal government in 2011 after 88 guns were found at his home, including a firearm that was linked to a murder. He was later released and the charges were dropped.x 8. In April of 2021 the Governor of Baja, Mexico, Jaime Bonilla Valdez described Mr. Rhonas the head of a “criminal group” and quoted a former governor as saying “All roads lead to the Racecourse.”He accused Mr. Rhon of being personally responsible for the high crime rate in his state.xi In light of these facts, we urge you to reconsider your decision to advance the license application for Caliente Interactive. If you have any questions please contact us. Sincerely, Les Bernal, National Director Stop Predatory Gambling Shane Hartman, Executive Director Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems Zach Savella Stallard, Organizer Stop Predatory Gambling Illinois i Chris Altruda,“IGB Moves Tekkorp Digital Forward For Online Sports Betting License,” Sports Handle, April 28, 2022, [https://

FAQs

Who is the letter addressed to, and what is the main request?

The letter is addressed to the Administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board. The authors request that the Board reconsider advancing the online-only sports wagering license application for Caliente Interactive.

What application is challenged in the letter?

The letter challenges the Illinois Gaming Board’s advancement of an online-only sports wagering application by Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp LLC, doing business as Caliente Interactive.

What concerns does the letter cite about Grupo Caliente and Jorge Hank Rhon?

The letter cites multiple publicly known issues, including prior regulator actions against Grupo Caliente, allegations of illegal activities and suspected money laundering, links to endangered wildlife trafficking, connections to investigations, and criminal/controversy-related events.

Aug 27, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel