Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a new national framework for tightening regulations governing the country’s sprawling gaming industry.
The legislation, which now moves to the Senate, would create a central overseer and licensing authority, the National Games and Draws Institute, and also seeks to clarify elements of what has been a confusing and loosely governed licensing system. The bill also imposes a number of harm minimization measures, such as prohibiting ATMs inside gambling venues and setting a minimum gambling age of 21.
“One of the main goals is to eliminate suspicions and the opacity that persists in the games and draws environment in Mexico,” said Alfredo Lazcano, managing partner of the law firm Lazcano Sámano.
In related news, two minor parties in the Congress, the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico and the Labor Party, are pushing an amendment to an existing law that will provide legal protection for casinos closed or charged with administrative offenses.
Antonio Cuellar, an Ecologist lawmaker, said the amendment will safeguard operators from the arbitrary acts of lesser authorities.
The new national legislation, however, provides for the possibility that venues can be closed by the new regulator for certain violations.
