Second Casino in Matamoros to Open This Month

James Vann is excited for the Matamoros, a Las Vegas-style casino, being opened later this month. The Harlingen businessman said, "It's going to be big." His plan is to operate six casinos on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande.

The second Viva Las Vegas Casino is set to open this Wednesday August 16 in Matamoros. Vann and other business partners of the casino will see the opening. By September three of Vann's casinos will be in full operation in Mexico. The first one is currently at Nuevo Progreso and the other will open in Nuevo by the end of September.

Vann said, "I'm a gambler, that's why I do it. You've got to be pretty entrepreneurial and gusty to do it; it's not easy."

The casino is located at Sixth Street, a few blocks from the Bennigan's in Matamoros. The casino will house 100 slot machines and sports betting that deals only in U.S. dollars.

The first casino in Nuevo has about 450-700 people visiting everyday, the casino opens at 10 a.m. until 3 a.m., seven days a week. This is the same expectation Vann has for the second casino.

Vann also hopes that the Mexican Legislature will allow more Las Vegas-style gambling. That would give way to table gaming in the casinos.