The head of the Mexican Gaming Association says the country is in the throes of a casino boom that will likely continue for several years and could see the industry double in size before President Enrique Peña Nieto leaves office at the end of 2018.
Miguel Angel Ochoa, president of the trade group, acknowledged that while gaming remains controversial in many communities it attracts sizable domestic and foreign investment as well as tourists, generates tax revenues for government and creates jobs.
He noted that there are currently 319 gaming venues in the country, housing some 90,000 machine games and serving around 3 million visitors per year, providing 38,000 direct jobs and 140,000 indirect jobs. In terms of numbers, Baja California tops the list with 43 properties, followed by 33 in Mexico City, 28 in Sonora and 24 in Jalisco.
He added, significantly, that there are enough operating permits in existence to allow approximately another 350 facilities.
Ochoa made the remarks at a ceremony to mark the opening of the Institute for Research and Treatment of Pathological Gambling in the Muguerza hospital in Monterrey.
