Casinos in Mexico

Introduction

In order to get a summary of gambling in Mexico, all the important rules and information, you have come to the right place!

We all know it as Mexico but the official name is the United Mexican States and it includes 31 states. It is in the top 20 biggest countries in the world and counts quite a few residents, around 130 million people. The largest city and also the capital is Mexico City and the official language is Spanish. The area is one of the six cradles of civilization and it has always been hosted by numerous nations and people. In 1521, the Spanish empire conquered the Aztec empire and established a colony. In the following few centuries, the colony expanded its territory and language and enforced Christianity. In the 19th century, the colonial period ended and Mexico became free. Although one difficult era ended, Mexico was involved in several other wars and conflicts, one of which is the Mexican-American war.

In our modern world, Mexico is known for many good things, ancient ruins, rich culture, amazing beaches, delicious cuisine, fantastic resorts etc. A renowned festival known as ‘Day of The Dead’ is a massive attraction and everyone loves the atmosphere and sound of the mariachi!

Additionally, this region is the creator of chocolate and thus produces some mouth-watering chocolate products!

The History of Gambling

Historically, gambling on this territory dates back to ancient times. Almec, Maya and Aztec cultures were all fans of games with stakes and prizes. In the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadors brought newer forms of gambling to the Americas.

The first gambling outlet was the Royal General Lottery formed in 1771. The proceeds were usually distributed to charity and socially beneficial causes because of the strong influence of the catholic church and its beliefs. The early 20th century was a period when gambling thrived and after the Revolution, when the USA banned gambling, Mexico legalized it to enhance tourism. This lasted very shortly and in 1935, new regulations eliminated the use of almost all games of the kind.

Before 1948, gambling in Mexico was prohibited according to the Betting and Raffles Law of 1947. However, some amendments had been made and starting 2005, sports betting was allowed. Not long after that, in 2010, the regulatory bodies permitted the use of class III slot machines. Up until then, only class II slots could be used.

Legislation and Jurisdiction

The rules and regulations are different when online gambling and land based gambling are concerned. Online gambling is not explicitly explained under the laws of Mexico, it is superficially mentioned in several places. Raffles and sports betting are allowed but online casino gaming remains unclear.

Land based casinos can operate as long as they are controlled and supervised by The Ministry of Interior. Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to engage in gaming. Only specific games are permitted and they include chess, dominos, dice, Blackjack and a few others. Furthermore, the casinos offer raffles, bingo and slot machines but not online gaming or live gaming, such as poker and Roulette. Winnings are considered taxable income federally (1%) and by states (4-6%).

In Mexico, all gambling and gaming is regulated by the Federal Gaming and Raffles Law and the Regulations of the Federal Gaming and Raffles.

There are four recognized types of licenses related to gambling:

• Licenses for operating horse and greyhound tracks, remote betting centers, aka sports books, and betting centers for drawing numbers
• Licenses for operating gambling facilities at national fairs
• Licenses for draws
• Licenses for operating horse tracks in temporary scenarios and cockfighting betting

In order to operate land based casinos and sports betting a special approval of the local municipality must be obtained. Only Mexican legal companies are eligible to apply for the licenses to operate a land based casino or sports betting.

Popular Spots and Games

The casino scene in Mexico is one of the most prolific ones in the world!

The country counts hundreds of land casinos that offer games, sports betting and lotteries. Many of these establishments are actually a part of larger complexes and attract both locals and tourists. The facilities often include resorts, hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, shopping outlets etc. The casinos are not just a place to participate in gambling, they are also social spots where people can socialize and watch different performances. Many of the facilities have stages where bands and musicians entertain people plus there are comedy shows, dance performances, magic shows and the like.

All of these are designed to attract visitors…

…and make them enjoy their stay!

The casinos are scattered all over the country, anywhere you go, there will be some casinos you can visit…

Banking

As in most places around the world nowadays, Mexico is a place where many people use cards and around half of all transactions are made by cards so tourists can freely rely on their Visa, Master cards and American Express. Other used payment methods include Mobiano, a pay by mobile way to make purchases that covers over a hundred markets and over two hundred mobile operators worldwide. Of course, bank transfers are accepted and a PaySafe card which is a convenient prepaid voucher. Finally, multiple e-wallets have made the list, for example PayPal and Apple Pay.

To Conclude

Those who decide to travel to Mexico are up for numerous treats!

The country is loaded with all kinds of sights, cultural features and entertainment. The residents and visitors can enjoy the vast array of land based casinos that usually come along with stunning resorts, beaches and plenty of other benefits. The history of gambling and the history of Mexico in general have been volatile in the past but today everything has settled and engaging in gaming and sports betting will not cause any legal issues. The solid amount of payment options allows punters from different countries to easily make payments and spend their funds all over the country. Whether you live in Mexico, or you are visiting it for the gambling industry or other reasons, it is a terrific place that is simply unforgettable!