Mexico, like many countries around the world, has somewhat unclear laws and legislation surrounding gambling and online gambling.
In this guide to online betting in Mexico we’ll do our best to clear up the situation and suggest Mexican friendly betting sites you can open an account with. It’s worth nothing there’s no specific law or legislation that covers online gambling in Mexico at present so many of the big operates are happy to accept Mexican punters.
If that changes we’ll be sure to let you know.
Key Facts: Online Gambling In Mexico
- Legal situation complex but gambling essentially legal.
- Secretaria de Gobernacion or SEGOB regulate land based gambling.
- Legal gambling age is 18+.
- No specific law or legislation that covers online gambling.
- Must be 18+ to gamble legally.
Best Mexican Friendly Betting Sites: Top 4
The following is a list of the best betting sites for residents of Mexico:
Gambling Legislation & Laws Timeline
The best way to understand gambling’s legal standing in any nation is by looking at that country’s main legislation related to the activity. The following is a timeline of that key legislation in the case of Mexico:
1947 – Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos (Federal Law of Gaming)
It was Mexico’s Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos of 1947 which first set down the definitive rules regarding gambling in the country. The law established as a general rule that gambling was a forbidden act in Mexico but also introduced a great many situations in which it was actually permitted.
2004 – Amendments to the Federal Law of Gaming
After many decades in which the confusingly specific and complicated statutes of the original 1947 law had proved almost impossible to enforce, Mexico’s SEGOB decided to relax the legislation. Amendments introduced in 2004 approved certain types of ‘numbers games’ which was taken to mean most casino games and poker, too.
From that point on, therefore, the majority of forms of gambling were legal in the country and more gaming licences were granted in the month following the new legislation than had been for the previous 57 years. More and more land-based and remote licences continued to be issued in the ensuing years.
2013 – Further Amendments
It was in 2013 that the most recent changes to Mexican gambling law came into force. These were largely cosmetic changes related to specific types of licence or advertising standards. One more notable change, however, was that as of October 2013 slot machines were made illegal outside of licensed casinos.
2014-Present – Moves Toward Better Regulation
It was in 2014 that overarching legislation to properly regulate both land-based and online gambling in Mexico was first mooted. It is believed that this legislation may include the creation of a National Institute of Gaming and could be passed by the end of 2016 / early 2017.
Continual delays and postponements, however, mean that that is by no means assured and that the exact nature of the legislation is still unknown.
Do Players Get Taxed On Winnings?
As well as understanding the legality of gambling in Mexico, it is also crucial to know the situation when it comes to the taxation of gambling based activities. Legal providers of gambling in Mexico are subject to an income tax known as Impuesto Sobre la Renta which stands at a rate of around 29%.
In most cases, punters themselves are fortunately not liable for tax on their winnings. One exception to this, however, comes in some Mexican states where a kind of VAT is applied to winnings earned through the use of slot machines in casinos. It is entirely possible, too, that once Mexico’s long-awaited new gambling legislation passes it may include new tax regulations.
Online Deposit Options & Methods
In general terms, there are no legal or legislative reasons why Mexican punters can’t choose whichever deposit method best suits them. That, in most cases, would mean deciding to deposit via debit or credit card as these are amongst the quickest, most efficient and most secure methods.
For those punters who do value privacy more highly, however, methods such as e-wallets can prove a better alternative. This is the case as these services routinely prevent the ultimate destination of money deposited to gambling sites from showing up on a bank statement.
