Key Moments:
- The Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB) has publicly committed to drafting reforms that address technological and social changes in Mexico’s gaming laws, but no proposals have materialized.
- Frequent turnover in the leadership of the General Directorate of Gaming and Lotteries has contributed to regulatory instability and an absence of progress.
- The most recent regulatory efforts have failed to modernize the legal framework, leaving the sector with outdated rules from the mid-20th century.
SEGOB’s Unfulfilled Commitments
In the latest analysis of Mexico’s political climate surrounding gambling, attorneys Alfredo Lazcano and Andrea Avedillo of Lazcano Sámano S.C. examine how government inaction has shaped the sector. SEGOB has identified as a high-priority goal the development and proposal of a reform project for the Federal Law of Gaming and Sweepstakes and its Regulations – specifically one that would consider advances in technology and shifts in social norms.
To date, however, SEGOB has not released or submitted any such reform initiative. The current laws remain largely unchanged from their origins in the first half of the twentieth century, failing to reflect the ongoing progress in both technology and society.
Leadership Changes Compound Challenges
With less than six months until the end of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration, frequent changes among the directors of Gaming and Lotteries have further undermined regulatory stability. This ongoing turnover is at odds with best practices, which favor continuity and professionalization in regulatory bodies.
For example, in 2018 and 2019, Dr. Juan Gabriel Coutiño Gómez, the first director during this administration, worked on a comprehensive draft law that addressed both land-based and online gaming. Despite its promising start, the proposal did not advance beyond the SEGOB and was never brought before the Congress of the Union.
A similar setback occurred in early 2021 with Director Ms. Alma Itzel de Lira Castillo, who expressed a willingness to collaborate through the planned symposium, “Innovation in the Gaming and Lottery Sector, the Proposal of a New Federal Law.” Despite aiming to address sector challenges and foster discussion, the event was never held and the draft law was not developed.
Regulatory Proposals Fall Short
August 2021 saw the introduction of a draft entitled “Guidelines on Gaming and Sweepstakes, and any activity involving betting” to the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement. Instead of resolving industry concerns, this draft appeared to heighten them. While the intentions may have been positive, the proposal failed to yield constructive results for the sector.
Other regulators referenced by name, such as Manuel Marcué Díaz, have not prioritized modernizing the sector’s regulatory framework.
Currently, Director Leonardo Manuel Figueroa Martínez, who has held the role for only a few months, was reportedly involved in leading a project to reform Gaming Regulation through a Decree. Nonetheless, no substantive attempts have been made to amend the Federal Law or its Regulations as pledged in the official Sectorial Program. Instead of progress, regulatory conditions have reverted to a state reminiscent of 1947.
Outlook for Reform
Looking ahead to the remaining months of the administration, attention turns to whether a reform project can be introduced that balances the protection of basic individual freedoms, such as the right to entertainment and economic participation, with the global movement toward effective regulation of gaming activities involving wagers.
| Year | Director | Key Event/Attempted Reform | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | Dr. Juan Gabriel Coutiño Gómez | Drafted new Federal Law on Gaming and Sweepstakes | Proposal not advanced beyond SEGOB |
| 2021 | Ms. Alma Itzel de Lira Castillo | Planned symposium to develop draft gaming law | Symposium not held, draft not developed |
| August 2021 | Not specified | Draft Guidelines on Gaming and Sweepstakes submitted | Did not address industry’s concerns; worsened issues |
| Current | Mr. Leonardo Manuel Figueroa Martínez | Initiated reform via Decree | No substantive reform to Law or Regulations |
- Author
Daniel Williams
