Mexico Proposes Reform of Federal Gaming and Lotteries Law
Mexico.- 11 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Deputy Alberto Martínez Urincho has introduced an initiative before the Mexico City Congress seeking to reform several provisions of the Federal Gaming and Lotteries Law, with a focus on gambling addiction prevention and stricter regulation of online betting platforms.
The proposal seeks to respond to the growth of digital betting and its impact on younger users through public-health measures, consumer protection and stronger access controls.
News Details
The initiative proposes adding a new Article 1 Bis and amending Article 3 of the existing legislation.
Its principal measures include formally recognising gambling addiction as an addictive disorder with a direct impact on mental health.
The proposal would also require gambling and betting providers to display health and risk warnings while introducing strict identity-verification controls intended to prevent minors from accessing gambling services.
It additionally seeks to prohibit misleading advertising and remove commercial incentives targeting vulnerable users.
Industry Context
The initiative also contains specific restrictions for prediction markets.
It would explicitly prohibit betting on political events, armed conflicts, natural disasters, humanitarian crises and other events considered to undermine human dignity.
Martínez Urincho justified the reform by pointing to the growth of problematic gambling behaviour in Mexico. Figures cited in the proposal indicate that between 4% and 8% of the country’s adolescent population may display problematic or dependent behaviour linked to these activities.
The legislator also referred to academic estimates suggesting that as many as 3.9 million Mexicans could suffer from gambling addiction.
Statements
Alberto Martínez Urincho said:
“We are witnessing exponential growth in gambling addiction in Mexico; this is not simply a matter of leisure or entertainment.”
He argued that gambling addiction can lead to compulsive behaviour despite serious physical, psychological and social consequences.
The legislator also stressed that the issue requires priority treatment from both public-health and mental-health policy.
Next Steps or Impact
Because the initiative seeks to amend federal legislation, it must first progress through the legislative process in Mexico City.
The proposal will be considered by the Local Public Administration Committee and subsequently by the plenary session of the Mexico City Congress.
If approved, the resulting resolution will be sent to the Federal Congress to continue its legislative process.
The reform could ultimately create additional obligations for digital operators and suppliers regarding identity verification, advertising, responsible gambling and the range of betting markets they are permitted to offer.
Editó: @fonta
