Casino operators in Mexico negotiate with Segob to secure legal certainty for investments

According to Plano Informativo, Mexico’s gaming industry employs over 200,000 people and plays a key role in regional development and tax revenue. Once stigmatized, the sector now seeks stronger ties with society through responsible practices and safe entertainment spaces.

Although gambling was legalized as early as 1907 and formalized under the 1947 Gaming and Raffles Law, regulation has not kept pace with industry growth. In 2004, under President Vicente Fox, the federal government expanded legalization to prevent capital flight, with regulations led by then-Interior Secretary Santiago Creel.

In 2023, the Morena administration reformed the law, reducing casino permit terms from 25 to 15 years and centralizing oversight under the Interior Ministry (Segob), limiting state and local authority.

Through the National Chamber of the Entertainment and Gambling Industry (CANAIEt), casino operators aim to combat gambling addiction and ensure safer environments. Francisco Gutiérrez Caballero, CANAIEt’s president, is negotiating with Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez for a modern legal framework that encourages investment and stable growth.

The industry is expanding, and legal certainty is crucial to attract multimillion-dollar investments and avoid regulatory inconsistencies across different jurisdictions.