The casino industry has proposed to Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Secretary of the Interior (Segob), that the new Federal Law on Games and Lotteries include permits for gambling spaces in hotels in tourist destinations like Cancun, Los Cabos, and Acapulco.
The Association of the Entertainment and Gambling Industry (AIEJA) and the Association of Permit Holders and Suppliers of Games and Lotteries reported that they discussed the potential benefits of a comprehensive reform with the Secretary of the Interior. They highlighted the creation of tourist projects combining hotels and casinos in popular destinations, which would allow Mexico to compete with international locations like Las Vegas.
Miguel Ángel Ochoa, president of AIEJA, and Alfonso Pérez Lizaur, leader of the second association, along with other businessmen, met with Rosa Icela Rodríguez to evaluate current regulations and industry challenges. They emphasized the need to address unfair competition from informal operators and new businesses.
The associations agreed that the Federal Law on Games and Raffles, in force since 1946, is outdated due to technological advances and the growth of the digital betting market. By the second quarter of 2024, the games and raffles sector contributed 164 billion pesos to the GDP, a 17 percent increase from the previous quarter.
Ochoa noted that the industry generates over 20,000 direct jobs and 180,000 indirect jobs, making it a significant sector for the Mexican economy. The industry also highlighted that informality affects public finances and the formal market, with at least 60 percent of online betting occurring outside the legal framework, leading to significant tax losses. Currently, only 81 operators have official permits.
Sector leaders stressed the need for an updated regulatory framework to provide legal certainty and promote economic development. The government reiterated its willingness to collaborate with the industry to find a joint solution.
Source: Forbes
