Mexico Plans Reforms to Regulate Casinos and Digital Betting Amid Potential Irregularities

Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced on Wednesday that her government will push legal reforms to regulate casinos and digital betting platforms. The move follows investigations that identified thirteen establishments with allegedly irregular operations and possible links to money laundering across eight states.

During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum acknowledged that current legislation is insufficient in the face of the rapid growth of online casinos, which have expanded without an appropriate regulatory framework.

“Today, countless bets are placed digitally. There are physical casinos where people go to play, all of which must comply with regulations, but now there are many digital casinos, as you can see on social media, television, and other channels,” the president said.

Sheinbaum emphasized that regulations for digital casinos “need to be updated,” noting that when the law was created, this form of betting did not exist. She warned that the current legal gap facilitates their use in illicit financial schemes.

Secretary of Security Omar García Harfuch reported that, following these findings, complaints were filed with the Attorney General’s Office, the Tax Authority was notified, and activities were suspended, including blocking related websites and bank accounts.

The president framed these actions as part of a broader strategy to track illicit funds: “Part of the security strategy also involves tracking resources that are allegedly linked to organized crime or money laundering schemes,” she explained.

Sheinbaum also highlighted international financial cooperation, involving intelligence units from the United States and other countries, as part of global efforts against money laundering.

Finally, she clarified that the crime under investigation is money laundering, not necessarily linked to a specific criminal group. The upcoming reform will aim to update regulations, close legal gaps, and strengthen oversight of the digital sector, in a context where online betting is advancing faster than Mexico’s legislation.