Mexico Casino City’s North American Gaming Almanac 157 Mexico The legal gaming industry currently consists of bingo, gaming parlors, Class II machines, lotteries, horse and greyhound betting, and sports wagering. While Mexico’s Federal Law of Games and Raffles of 1947 technically prohibits casino gambling, amendments and regulatory loopholes have allowed the widespread operation of casinos, gaming parlors, and betting shops across the country. The 1947 law was amended in 2005 to allow sportsbooks, offtrack betting and numbers games. The Mexican Home Office, La Secretaria de Gobernación (SEGOB), is in charge of the licensing and regulation of all gaming. Initially, the drive to reform the gaming laws was to promote tourism. But now that de facto casinos permeate the Mexican landscape, the focus has turned to regulating gaming activity and stopping the proliferation of illegal gambling. In 2013, Mexico explicitly banned slot machines and outlawed the practice of gaming license holders renting out their permits to other operators. Since then, there have been several legislative efforts from the Executive Branch to amend the Gaming Law and its Regulations or to pass a new gaming bill that meets the needs of a globalized gaming industry and offers certainty and clarity to permit-holders, gaming operators and players. On November 16, 2023, a new presidential decree was published in the Official Gazette, amending the Federal Law of Games and Raffles and its regulations. The decree prohibits the operation of slot machines for new permit holders, eliminates the sub-licensor structure, and limits new permits to a maximum of 15 years. This reform has been aggressively challenged in court by industry groups, and in June 2024 a federal judge (Gabriel Regis) declared key parts of the slot machine ban unconstitutional, a position later reinforced by additional rulings in 2024, creating significant uncertainty around the long-term enforceability of the ban. In October 2025, Deputy Ricardo Mejía submitted a comprehensive bill before the Chamber of Deputies to replace the 1947 Federal Law of Games with Bets and Lotteries in its entirety. The bill proposes creating a new autonomous National Institute of Games and Lotteries (under SEGOB) to replace the DGJS, introduces a clear legal framework for online casinos and platforms, raises the minimum legal age for gaming from 18 to 21, mandates responsible gambling requirements, and strengthens anti-money laundering provisions. The bill remains under legislative review as of mid2026. In late 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum (who took office October 2024) announced a comprehensive government review of the gambling sector — covering both land-based casinos and online betting platforms — involving SEGOB, the Ministry of Finance (SHCP), the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection, and the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF). The review is driven by concerns over the explosive growth of online wagering, deceptive advertising targeting youth, tax evasion, and potential money laundering through digital platforms. Gaming Profile by Type of Location Locations Casinos ............................................. 349 99.4% Horse Tracks ...................................... 1 0.3% Racinos............................................... 1 0.3% Total ................................................. 351 100.0% Electronic Gaming Machines Casinos ........................................... 2,951 Racinos............................................. 900 Lotteries Revenue Revenue in Millions MXN 2021 2022 2023 2024 Mexico 3,612.01 5,331.27 6,532.47 6,926.56 Total 3,612.01 5,331.27 6,532.47 6,926.56 Casino and Card Room Gaming Casino gaming in Mexico is expressly forbidden in the first article of the Federal Law of Games and Draws of 1947. However, the same law mentions an opportunity for games with bets to be allowed at the discretion of the Secretaria de Gobernación (SEGOB). Initially, permission for such games was rarely granted. But the situation changed over time, and eventually, Class II machines and converted Class III machines began operating in hundreds of gaming properties throughout the country. The Mexican government has attempted to gain control of its casino industry numerous times in the last decade. Recent efforts have relied less on new primary legislation and more on tightening regulations and decrees, with an emphasis on restricting new slot deployments, limiting permit terms and ensuring that licensed venues operate under stricter oversight. In 2013, Mexico banned slot machines. It also stopped gaming license owners from renting out their permits to other operators. However, slot machines operating in casinos were legalized during the six-year term of President Felipe Calderón and endorsed in 2016 by a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of Justice. Bills that would have banned gaming parlors near schools and churches, banned the operation of slot machines in stores and pharmacies, and created a new tax structure for the remaining operators failed to pass in 2009 and 2010. The 2023 decree also eliminated the “sub-licensor” structure, meaning only primary permit holders can operate gaming establishments, not third-party operators. The legal status of slot machines remains in flux due to ongoing court challenges. Existing permit holders may continue operating slot machines until their permits expire, but no new permits for slot operations are being issued. Lotteries Mexico allows government-run and privately operated lotteries. The government lotteries consist of the Lotería Nacional para la Asistencia Pública, established in 1770, and the Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública. Revenue from these national lotteries is primarily used to fund public health and welfare programs. Lottery
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