Legislation
Mexico – Mexican senators to pass new gaming law
By Phil - 29 August 2013
Members of one of the most important political parties in Mexico the PRI party (The Institutional Revolutionary Party) are planning to introduce new legislation which would do away with Mexico’s out-dated gaming laws.
The new law would regulate the 400 gaming centres which currently operate in the country and has been put forward as a major part of the upcoming political agenda after a meeting between members of Mexico’s Interior Ministry (SEGOB) and senators from the PRI party.
Senator of the PRI party Verónica Martínez Espinosa explained that The Secretary of Government Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong had outlined to her that previous administrations had granted a total of 31 licences to companies which combined operate around 400 gaming centres. The current administration has not granted any more licenses and has closed down a number of operations which were found to be operating illegally.
In Mexico casinos and gaming were banned by the Betting and Raffles Law of 1947. While the law is still in place, Mexico has seen a huge proliferation in gaming over the last ten years and there have been a number of attempts to do away with the old act. In 2005 the government amended the old act to allow for bingo, slot parlours and sports betting and The Secretary of Government in Mexico’s Interior Ministry SEGOB was given the responsibility for the granting of licences.
Martínez Espinosa stressed that new legislation was necessary in order to repeal the old act and that a new act was called for which would more accurately reflect Mexico’s modern gaming landscape. She also praised SEGOB’s efforts to more closely scrutinise the licensing process. As a consequence of the meeting members of the PRI party will submit the issue for debate and propose a new gaming act during the next legislative session which begins on September 1 and ends on December 15.
