A draft proposal has been tabled in Mexico to tighten the player safety mechanisms around gaming and sweepstakes.
As reported by SBC Noticias, the proposal was drafted by Deputy Alberto Martínez Urincho and presented to the Congress of Mexico City.
Because the regulatory framework controlling games of chance and sweepstakes is a federal law, however, any amendments must first pass a Public Administration Commission and then be approved by the Legislative Plenary.
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.
For operators, the draft envisions prominent display of warning messages, stricter identity verification controls and age-limit oversight, restrictions around enticing promotions, and interestingly – officially banning predictions on political events, global conflicts, humanitarian crises, natural disasters, and all other markets that “violate human dignity”.
All of these listed markets are most commonly associated with controversial prediction markets platform Polymarket, the likes of which are currently operating in a grey area in Mexico.
In other words, Urincho directly addressed prediction markets, but was not entirely negative against them – just the most controversial markets they sometimes offer.
Another concern raised by Urincho was the penetration of mobile devices, which he said have brought gaming and sports betting into the daily life of players, available 24/7.
“Advertising on social networks and streaming platforms sells the fantasy of easy money, trapping even those under 18 years of age in problematic dynamics,” he said.
“We are witnessing an exponential growth of the game in Mexico. This is not a simple matter of leisure or entertainment. We are talking about a disorder that generates changes in the brain circuits, leading to compulsive behavior despite the serious physical, psychological and social consequences.”
