Legislation
Panama and Mexico – Gaming boards in Mexico and Panama discuss regulation
By Phil - 20 September 2019
The General Director of the gaming control board in Mexico, Luis Calvo Reyes, has met with Manuel Sánchez Ortega, the executive secretary of the Panamanian Game Control Board, in order to exchange views and their stance regarding the regulation of the gambling industry in each of their respective jurisdictions.
During the meeting the two government officials discussed topics such as control mechanisms for games and lotteries, as well as tax rates and tax collection.
The Mexican gaming control board comes under the Ministry of the Interior and Calvo Reyes said that the head of the Ministry of the Interior, Olga Sánchez Cordero, had reinforced measures to combat illegal gambling. During the meeting, the officials discussed lessons learnt so far when it came to best practices for the development and regulation of the industry , as well as the application of gaming laws, inspection monitoring and compliance as well as the growth of gambling and the development of different games now authorised in Mexico.
Manuel Sánchez discussed the successful incorporation of “C” slot machines into the market, as well as the work the Board had been doing in order to strengthen social support and protection for vulnerable groups and minors, through actions to combat and prevent gambling addiction via the promotion of responsible gambling practices and player’s self-exclusion schemes. Type C machines may only pay a maximum of US$200 per machine in prizes. In the past the board has stated that it considers Type C machines, to be the main cause of pathological gambling, since they are located in low-income neighbourhoods and in rural areas.
