Online Casino Licence in Mexico
The Direccion General de Juegos y Sorteos (General Directorate of Games and Draws) is responsible for monitoring and supervising gambling entertainment and issuing licences for online casinos in Mexico. The division operates in accordance with the Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos (Federal Law of Games and Draws) and comes under the Ministry of the Interior.
Licenses
In Mexico, you are allowed:
- games of chess and checkers
- dominoes
- bowling and billiards
- ball games
And you can also participate in:
- sports betting, racing
- lotteries
A separate licence needs to be obtained for each type of entertainment.
Online slot machines, slots and poker are prohibited under the Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos (Federal Law of Games and Draws) in Mexico.
Jurisdiction
In Mexico the General Directorate of Games and Draws (hereinafter the General Directorate) is an advisory council.
Its members are:
- Deputy Minister of Government, who is also the Chairman
- Head of Government Department
- Member of the Legal Committee of the Secretariat of the President of Mexico (hereinafter the Secretariat), appointed by the Minister of Human Rights
- three members of society who have excelled in the fields of private enterprise, education or economics. They are appointed by the Head of the Main Directorate but have no voting rights.
This Council is elected for three years, then the members are re-elected.
Commission functions:
- Serve as an advisory body to the Secretariat.
- Recommend measures for the proper functioning of the gambling business.
- Improve the operation and innovation processes of the gambling market.
- Send their decisions on the issuance of licences to the Secretariat.
- Conduct investigations, research and analise the gambling market.
- Organise committees, forums or working groups that can provide useful information about the gambling market.
The Commission forms proposals and regulations regarding the organisation and functioning of the gambling niche.
Arbitration
The interests of players are protected by the Customer Service Centre (CAU) of the General Directorate of Games and Draws.
Centre employees are engaged in:
- Providing information on the procedures and requirements required for the issuance of entertainment and lottery licences.
- Consideration of documents for the issuance of licences.
- Consulting and monitoring the progress of procedures in the Main Directorate of Games and Draws.
- Delivery of licences approved by the Main Directorate.
If the gambling establishment does not comply with the legislation, the General Directorate can cancel or suspend their licence. You can write to quejasydenunciasjys@segob.gob.mx about illegal lotteries and underground online casinos.
Authority
A licence issued to an online casino allows you to operate in Mexico, but not abroad. To open branches in other countries, you will need to obtain a cross-licence.
Tax Rates
Licensees have to pay 4% of the total bets (net of the prizes paid) in tax.
How to Obtain an Online Casino Licence in Mexico
The rules for obtaining a licence for an online casino in Mexico are specified in article 20 of the Federal Law on Games and Draws.
The future licensee must:
- Submit a written request in the format set by the Secretariat.
- Provide a copy of registration with the Federal Register of Taxpayers.
- Show the constituent act registered in the State Register.
- Provide the secretary with financial documents.
- Certify all documents with a public notary.
Each individual who is a partner or shareholder of the licensee is also required to add copies of their documents.
Namely, inform:
- name, nationality and place of residence
- information about the financial position indicating the origin of the capital contributed to the company
- data from the State Register of owned real estate and information on tax payments for the last 5 years
- biographical information
- kinship or professional ties with representatives of other licensee companies
- data on the absence of convictions for crimes of a criminal or financial nature
- information about loans, overdue debts
For a legal entity-partner, the documents must be as follows:
- constituent papers of the enterprise and an act from the State Register of Property and Trade
- statements of profit and loss, origin and use of monetary resources for the last five years
- notarized confirmation of investment in the licensee company
- list of names, information on nationality and place of residence of members of the Board of Directors
- a list of partners or shareholders who own at least 10% of the shares
- copies of the identity cards of the beneficiaries
General Director, Director, Members of the Commission Report have to provide:
- name, nationality and place of residence
- biographical data
- kinship or professional ties with representatives of other licensee companies
- no convictions for criminal or financial crimes
- information about loans or their absence
At the end, you need to attach the results of a study indicating the financial stability of the enterprise, a feasibility study, a detailed description of the betting system and mechanisms for managing it and the rules of video games. The IT infrastructure, security system and technical support policy need to be described in detail.
Licence Cost
The cost of obtaining a licence in Mexico varies depending on its type, the number of games and their variety. You can find out the full amount after filling out the application.
Additionally you will need to pay for:
- changes in the structure of the company
- a state audit
- permission for each game or lottery
- an advertising campaign
- licence Renewal;
- tax on awarding winnings
- participation in races
- errors in the indication of income
- Software Updates
- fines
To find out the exact cost of your licence, you must fill out an electronic application on the website of the Main Directorate of Games and Draws.
In El Centro de Atención a Usuarios (CAU), the Customer Service Centre of the General Directorate of Games and Sweepstakes in Mexico. A professional and competent team who quickly respond to requests from users and licence holders.
The centre operates in Ciudad Juarez from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00, at Calle Versalles 49, 2nd floor.
Organisers of and visitors to illegal online establishments face imprisonment from a period of one month to two years and will have to pay a fine from 100 to 5000 thousand pesos.