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Mexico – Online gaming in Mexico generates US$300m a year

By - 29 April 2015

The online gaming industry in Mexico generates about US$300m a year without paying tax in Mexico according to the Association of Licensees, Entertainment Gambling & Gaming Industry Operators and Suppliers (Asociación de Permisionarios, Operadores y Proveedores de la Industria del Entretenimiento y Juego de Apuesta).

Calls are growing in local press for regulation to be put in place quickly in order to prevent gambling addiction and regulate the online space.

Daniel Olivares of the “Say No to Casinos” organisation believes that this boom is especially problematic because there is no control and no warnings are in place when it comes to the dangers of online gambling.

The association has detected more than 50 websites that have their headquarters in other countries, without control over financial transactions made locally and local players.

According to the most recent statistics, Mexico has around 350 legal casinos. Of these only three have permits to operate online games: Caliente, PLJE7 and Bectris.

In Mexico the growth in casino style gaming has led to an increased interest in betting online especially as the broadband industry in Mexico has developed so rapidly. Under current rules gaming companies which are already physically established in Mexico are permitted to apply for an online license but a large number of offshore operators are offering their services to locals. Legislation which seeks to regulate the gaming industry has yet to be passed by the Mexican Senate.

The new law aims to regulate the gaming industry more efficiently, safeguard the rights of players and make the licensing process more transparent. The new law has been the result of many months of work by the special committee first convened to look into the issue back in April 2013. However it is unclear exactly how online gaming will be addressed in the new act as the main emphasis of new legislation has been aimed at the land based market.

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