Legislation
Mexico – Mexico to thrash out new gaming laws
By Phil - 9 December 2013
Law makers are analysing a new law which could be debated in the Mexican Congress as early as next February. The initiative is coming from member of the select committee which has been tasked with investigating the industry since April. Headed by Ricardo Mejía Berdeja its remit has been to investigate how licences have been handed out in the past under the previous administration and to make recommendations as to how Mexico’s gaming laws could be changed in order to more fully regulate a sector which has seen a rapid proliferation in recent years
Speaking during the first public consultation on the issue which was held at the Graduate School of Public Administration and Public Policy last week members of the committee argued that the way forward was to allow Mexico’s gaming industry to grow while regulating and taxing the gaming sector more efficiently. Federal deputies José Arturo Salinas Garza, Aurora de la Luz Aguilar Rodríguez, Héctor Gutiérrez de la Garza and Ricardo Mejía Berdeja, who all attended the forum, argued that Mexico’s antiquated gaming laws of 1947 need to be replaced with a new law so that Mexico may benefit more fully from gaming tax revenue in the future.
Head of the committee Ricardo Mejia Berdeja told the forum that his commission had “not demonised the industry” but called for “clear rules and transparency” so that gaming is regulated. Meanwhile, referring to Mexico’s Gaming laws of 1947, legislator Arturo Salinas Garza said: “It’s one of the shortest laws in the country and yet it is one of the laws that govern one of the most important and controversial issues in Mexico.”
Mr. Salinas went on to say that: “The task both we and the government have as legislators is to put into place clear rules and to regulate and establish the parameters of action so that finally each Mexican can use the freedoms that we have in order to decide whether to participate in these games or not.”
Mr. Salinas said that a new law was also vital for investors. “It is urgent that we can issue a new law. It is urgent that those who decide to invest in this sector can do so with the peace of mind of any other investor as in any other business segment in the country,” he said.
It is expected that the new gaming law could be up for debate as early as next February once Congress begins its next session and that it will cover every aspect of gaming including online gaming.
