Mexico to Reform 1947 Gambling Law as Online Betting Booms

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has announced plans to modernise the “Ley de Juegos y Sorteos” (Law of Games and Lotteries) of 1947, responding to the rapid growth of online sportsbooks and increasing visibility of internet betting in Mexican media and society.

President Sheinbaum stated that the objective is not to prohibit gambling, but to bring the outdated legislation into alignment with current digital realities and social risks. At a press conference on 16 October, she tasked Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB) Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez with drafting a reform bill covering online gaming, advertising rules, consumer protection and addiction prevention.

The reform initiative responds to concerns over the prominence of online betting adverts during live sports broadcasts and the perception among younger audiences that gambling is an easy path to quick money. The government intends to link parts of the reform to public-health measures, such as raising the special tax on internet gambling from 30% to 50%, with additional revenue earmarked for mental-health programmes and addiction prevention.

If the bill proceeds, it would mark the first comprehensive overhaul of Mexico’s federal gaming legislation in nearly eight decades. Observers note the challenge will lie in balancing a regulatory framework that supports innovation and revenue generation, while safeguarding consumers and curbing illegal activity in a market where online operators have grown significantly.