Mexico Gambling Laws – Casinos & Legal Games
This article is dedicated to the Mexico gambling laws, but there is more than a list of the current laws. We will tell you who issues licences to the operators and which of them qualify for a casino licence. Alongside this, we added a list of the legal games in Mexico and what types of casinos and gambling locations you can play at.
The main Mexico gambling law also sets limits to the legal gambling age. We will tell you how old you have to be to gamble at a Mexican casino and what taxes are paid upon winning. Furthermore, our article has a section dedicated to the most important questions about the gambling laws in Mexico. We recommend you to read on and play smart at licensed gambling locations.
History of the Mexican Gambling Laws
The history of gambling laws in Mexico goes back to the days of the Aztec, Maya, Olmec, and other ancient civilisations ruling this territory. Back then, gambling games were different than today, but the essence of competition and wagering a prize was the same. In the 16th century, the Spanish conquerors brought modern European games. Here is how the Mexican gambling laws evolved after that:
| Year | Gambling Situation in Mexico |
|---|---|
| 1771 | The Royal General Lottery is the first officially legal gambling in Mexico. During that time, the church was strictly against any form of wagering games, so a large part of the lottery money was donated to socially beneficial purposes like hospitals and other forms of charity. |
| 19th Century | The French colonisers created the first casinos in Mexico during Porfirio Diaz’s reign in the 19th century. |
| 1911 | The Mexican Revolution in 1911 banned gambling games and restricted the gambling industry. |
| 1920 – 1935 | 1920 was when Mexico legalised commercial gambling. Locals, tourists, and budget travellers were welcome to spin the roulette wheels and play card games for real cash. |
| 1935 – 1947 | President Lazaro Cardenas banned all forms of gambling in 1935. Even though some traditional games remained, and people occasionally placed a wager on a winner, the casino gambling games were considered illegal. |
| 1947 | The ban on gambling ended on 31st December 1947, with the Gambling Law released by President Miguel Alemán Valdés. Even today, this law regulates all casinos, lottery, sports betting, and other gambling games. |
As you can see, the legality of gambling in Mexico depended heavily on the church’s opinion and the country’s rulers. Every new government did what they thought was best for the people, and sometimes, the decisions contradicted one another. Today, gambling in Mexico is legal, and in the next section, you can find which laws are in power.
Current Gambling Laws in Mexico
Mexico is a federal republic with 31 states. This means that there are differences when it comes to laws and regulations. Since gambling is legal in all Mexican states, the main gambling regulation applies slight differences in tax rare and legal games, which we will mention further in this article. Here are the main gambling laws in Mexico you should know:
- Gaming Control Act
- Mexico Criminal Code
- Horse Racing Act
- State Lottery Act
- Bingo and Raffle Act
- Federal Law of Administrative Procedure
- Federal Consumer Protection Act
- Customary Law
- Tax-related Acts
- General Health Act
The Mexico gambling law that brought the country up to speed with modern gambling was the 2004 Regulations of the Federal Law of Games and Raffles, signed by President Vicente Fox Quesada. This law legalises all new forms of gambling (like online gambling) and updates the regulations of the old gambling games to match the modern gambling industry.
The law was modified in 2013 and, undoubtedly, will be changed again to match the constantly developing gambling industry once the Gambling Licensing and Advertising Act is accepted and to fix the outdated casino gambling laws. The next section will give you the main rules every player and legal gambling location follows.
Legal Gambling Age, Taxes & Gambling Crimes
The gambling laws that Mexico states apply regulate the legal gambling age, taxes paid by players and operators, and even gambling crimes and punishments. Check the element below to find out details on those topics.
We recommend you check the state’s gambling laws and the main Mexico gambling laws before playing. As we mentioned, the different states may have different regulations that will surprise you. An excellent example is the Mexico city additional 12% tax on net profit and the 6% tax on the player’s winnings.
The Mexican Secretariat for Home Affairs (SEGOB)
There is a simple and yet extremely strict gambling licensing procedure. All gambling licensing in Mexico is dealt with by the Gaming and Lottery Office also called the Mexican Secretariat for Home Affairs (SEGOB) in the Ministry for the Interior (SEGOB). The Office issues licences and regulates all gambling activities, including the Mexico gambling games and gambling locations. According to the land-based and Mexico online gambling laws, only Mexican companies or individuals can obtain the following licences:
- Gambling Licence covers all casino, slots, card, and table games.
- Sports Betting, Apuestas is a permit for taking wagers on sports events, horse races, dog races, blood sports, and jai alai frontón venues.
- Fairs Gambling is a 28-day permit for venues like fairs and festivities. It covers horse racing, cockfighting, card games, and more wagering options and entertainments.
- Online Gambling Licence covers only online slot machines. The law is yet to expand and include the rest of the online gambling and betting forms, but for now, the government authorities do not chase or punish players who enjoy more than slots.
Before the latest legal amendments in 2013, the licences were valid for 40 years, but now each Mexico gambling licence lasts up to 25 years. After that, the licence holder can extend it or change the licence type. All companies and individuals who wish to obtain a gambling licence in Mexico pay a licencing fee of 1-2%. The fee size depends on the type of gambling activity the operator intends to offer.
Legal Casinos in Mexico
The gambling laws in Mexico regulate the activity of all land-based and online gambling locations. The casinos and Mexico gambling games became legal in 1947, and so far, there are 230 casino gambling venues with many more planned to open in future. Online gambling is also legal, and the government constantly upgrades it up to the latest developments of the gambling industry.
Mexico’s Land-Based Casinos
The brick and mortar gambling locations are parts of resorts, casino hotels, and some smaller locations like bingo halls and lottery stations. If you wonder how the local operators compare to their nearest competitors in Louisiana and Nevada, then check our best Mexican roulette sites for 2024.
The Mexico gambling law is quite liberal compared to the strict Texas gambling laws, for example, permitting only legal horse races, greyhound races, lotteries, poker, and daily fantasy games. Even though those two territories are next to each other, the differences in the regulations are astonishing. That is why many USA citizens and travellers visit Mexico to gamble.
Once an operator acquires a licence from the Gambling and Raffles Bureau (Ministry of the Interior), the regulated casino can open its doors to Mexican players and tourists. Depending on the operator and the status of the casino, there are gaming rooms with a casual atmosphere, while others have a strict dress code.
Most Mexican casinos are in Mexico City, Quintana Roo, and Baja California state because this is where the majority of the tourists go. Those of you who intend to get a diverse experience in Central America can start their trip at the Mexican casinos, move to cruise ships sailing around the Gulf or even hop on riverboat casinos in Louisiana.
Online Casinos in Mexico
The Mexico online gambling laws are similar to the online gambling laws in other countries. Furthermore, Mexico and El Salvador are two countries in Central America, with legislation regulating the legal local and offshore online casinos.
According to the current laws, foreign operators can’t acquire a licence or offer their services directly to Mexican players. That is why they partner up with locally licensed operators with a remote gambling licence. Some of the granted licences are granted to online sports betting, poker, or lottery companies.
Once the new gambling legislation passes, the rules will change again. Until then, Mexican players can play at licensed foreign online gambling sites, which also follow Mexican registrations and laws. On the other hand, playing at unlicensed or illegal online gambling sites is a crime, and the violators are punished.
Legal Gambling Games in Mexico
When it comes to freedom of wagering and abundance of legal gambling games, the Mexico gambling laws are close to Nevada, New Jersey, and Louisiana gambling laws. Below, you can find the most popular gambling games in Mexico available online and at brick and mortar gambling locations.
Considering everything we told you about the gambling laws in Mexico, you can decide whether or not the Mexican casinos deserve your attention. In our opinion, all land-based casinos offer interesting games and entertainment to local players and tourists. The Mexican online gambling sites are good and easily can compete with other international gambling sites.
Mexico Gambling Laws Q&A
Our article about the Mexico gambling laws is dedicated to the legal gambling situation in all Mexico’s provinces. Now, we will answer interesting questions about the gambling laws, legal games, and more topics related to gambling in Mexican casinos.
