Mexico Proposes Strategy to Prevent Childhood Gambling Harm

Mexico.- 22 July 2026 www.zonadeazar.com Deputy Mariana Guadalupe Jiménez Zamora has introduced an initiative requiring the Mexican state to design, implement and evaluate a National Strategy for the Prevention of Childhood Digital Gambling Addiction. The proposal seeks to protect children and adolescents from betting, gambling and digital reward mechanisms that may encourage compulsive spending or wagering behaviour.

News Details

The initiative would add a new Article 101 Bis 4 to the General Law on the Rights of Children and Adolescents.

The strategy would have a preventive, educational and institutionally coordinated approach. It would not replace the regulatory or enforcement powers assigned to other authorities, but would promote the prevention, restriction and exclusion of minors from betting and gambling activities.

The proposal also establishes that access by minors cannot be promoted under the concept of responsible gambling, as its objective is to prevent their participation entirely.

Industry Context

The national strategy would include public information and awareness campaigns, digital-literacy measures, preventive criteria and coordination mechanisms among government bodies.

It would also provide guidance, early-detection procedures, institutional referral and psychosocial support, alongside the preparation of educational materials, assessments and age-appropriate preventive standards.

The document recognises that internet access is essential for education, entertainment and the exercise of rights, while warning that it has also increased children’s exposure to cyberbullying, digital violence, aggressive commercial targeting, personalised advertising and gambling-related mechanics.

The initiative does not seek a general prohibition of video games, recreational applications or age-appropriate digital entertainment. However, it proposes preventive measures addressing simulated gambling, conditional random rewards, repeated purchases, compulsive microtransactions and exposure to gambling advertising.

Next Steps or Impact

The proposal has been referred to the Committee on the Rights of Children and Adolescents in the Chamber of Deputies for consideration.

If approved, it could establish a coordinated national policy to prevent early exposure to online gambling and address risks associated with certain mechanics used in video games, applications and digital platforms.

Edited by: @_fonta