Legislation

Mexico – Governor to impose harsher penalties on Baja California’s illegal gambling

By Phil - 13 November 2019

The Governor of the Mexican State of Baja California, Jaime Bonilla Valdez, has announced a crackdown on illegal gambling. According to the governor illegal gambling has become an ‘epidemic that threatens security,’ in the region.

The governor said penalties will be applied against those who operate slot machines that operate illegally in all types of businesses.

“These illegal machines known as mini casinos, have proliferated even in the most humble stores . . . causing great damage to society, because children go to these places, stop going to school, spend the money of their parents and also the sale of drugs proliferates in these places, which pays for crime,” he said at the end of the daily meeting of the Security Bureau.

Valdez said that the government is looking to eradicate illegal slots in small businesses in the next three months, through the implementation of a public awareness campaign as well as new laws which will make the possession of illegal slots a serious crime.

Illegal gambling continues to be a problem in Mexico. In addition to licensed slot machines in Mexico there are, according to estimates by the General Directorate of Gaming (DGJS), between an estimated 70,000 and 75,000 slot machines operating illegally throughout Mexico located in grocer’s shops and other small businesses such as chemists and convenience stores. However Interior Ministry sources put this figure closer to 140,000.