AIEJA highlights progress towards a new gaming law in Mexico
The Association of Licensees, Operators, and Suppliers of the Entertainment and Gambling Industry in Mexico (AIEJA) has stated that there are clear signs of progress towards the approval of a new gambling law in the country. This was expressed by Miguel Ángel Ochoa, president of AIEJA, during his speech at the recent GAT Mexico event, where he emphasized the urgency of replacing the current legislation, which has been in force for 77 years, with an updated regulatory framework that aligns with the sector’s reality.
Ochoa highlighted that, for the first time, he sees it possible for the Mexican government to push forward a new law for the sector. “We believe that for the first time it is possible to have a new law. The issue is being led by the Ministry of the Interior. The forums to which we were called have been completed, and we understand that the project is in its final drafting stage. It would be a very important step to regulate a market that today is governed by an obsolete law from 77 years ago,” said the association’s president, according to local press reports. The current context of the Mexican market is marked by rapid growth in online gambling, which has generated an urgent demand for specific regulation for this segment.
AIEJA considers that a new law would not only allow the market to be organized but also establish regional agreements that help improve emerging regulations throughout Latin America, where several countries are already implementing reforms to face the sector’s challenges. One of the main problems the industry faces in the region is the proliferation of illegal gambling.
Ochoa warned that regulatory reforms must be designed with great care to prevent operators from finding it more profitable to operate illegally than within the legal framework. In this regard, the association insists on the importance of creating conditions that encourage formality and transparency in the sector. Another fundamental aspect pointed out by AIEJA is the need to activate secure payment methods for online gambling. This measure aims to prevent money laundering and reduce the risks associated with capital laundering, a topic of growing concern in the global gambling industry.
According to AIEJA’s forecasts, online gambling will soon surpass in-person gambling in Mexico, driven mainly by rapid adoption among young people aged 18 to 30. However, the association believes that both segments will continue to complement each other within the national market, provided there is modern and effective regulation that guarantees the safety and sustainable development of the industry.
Tags: Mexico, regulation, AIEJA, iGaming Mexico