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Gaming or gambling is a permitted activity in Mexico, subject to the obtaining of the corresponding governmental authorization to conduct gaming activities from the Mexican competent authority. Gambling is an activity subject to scope or attributions of the federal government and legislation, and not to those of a state or local level; with the exception of gaming tax issue. A TGM Research survey shows that 65% people in Mexico took some gambling activities (inc. sports betting) in 2022.
Pursuant to Section X of Article 73 of the Constitution of Mexico, the Federal Legislature enacted the Federal Games and Draws Law (Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos), which was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación) on December 31, 1947, and is in effect since January 5, 1948.
The law had no regulation (reglamento) until September 17, 2004, when the president published one in the Diario Oficial. The Chamber of Deputies challenged it before the Supreme Court in November 2004, arguing that the president had gone beyond the 1947 law, which bans games of chance in general. Under the regulation, the Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB) issues permits for racetracks, remote betting centers (centros de apuestas remotas, i.e. sports books) and number-draw halls; most casinos run as number-draw halls. Permit holders may also take bets by electronic means, and online betting in Mexico rests on this. The 1947 law itself never mentions the internet. The regulation was last amended in November 2023, when gaming machines outside authorized casinos (e.g. in convenience stores and pharmacies) were banned.
The legal gambling age is 18.
