Mexico is moving closer to tougher gambling oversight after a new draft proposal emerged targeting operators, sweepstakes, and prediction markets.
Deputy Alberto Martínez Urincho drafted the proposal and presented it to the Congress of Mexico City, according to SBC Noticias.
Because games of chance and sweepstakes fall under federal law, any amendments must first pass a Public Administration Commission before reaching the Legislative Plenary for approval.
Urincho stated that the objective of the draft is to position problem gambling as a public health concern and therefore incorporated into Mexico’s wider public health strategy.
The proposal would require operators to display prominent warning messages and implement stricter identity verification controls alongside tighter age-limit oversight measures.
Restrictions on enticing promotions are also included in the draft, giving regulators additional tools to curb aggressive marketing tactics aimed at players.
One of the more striking elements of the proposal is a call to officially ban predictions on political events, global conflicts, humanitarian crises, natural disasters, and markets deemed to “violate human dignity.”
Those categories are most closely associated with prediction markets platforms like Polymarket, which currently operates in a regulatory grey area in Mexico.
Urincho’s position was notably measured, taking aim at the most controversial markets those platforms offer rather than dismissing prediction markets outright.
The deputy also raised concerns about the growing penetration of mobile devices, which he said have brought gaming and sports betting into the daily life of players, available 24/7.
Mobile access has significantly expanded the reach of gambling products across Mexico, making the push for updated regulation increasingly urgent for policymakers.
Whether the draft gains enough political momentum to clear both the Public Administration Commission and the Legislative Plenary remains to be seen in the months ahead.
