Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has put a total slot machine ban in place, according to a Mexico Daily Post local report.
President López Obrador published the recent decision with the Regulations of the Federal Law on Games and Sweepstakes. Under the terms of the ban, “draws of numbers or symbols through machines” were eliminated, with the understanding that slot machines would fall under this restriction.
During the past several years, slot machines in casinos have been legal in Mexico. The machines were legalized by a Supreme Court of Justice unanimous ruling in 2016 when Felipe Calderón held office.
Since the 2016 decision, slot machines can be excluded by the President, according to the local report.
The new prohibition on the books “will not be retroactive,” which will allow the nation’s 444 casinos that are up and running “to maintain their slot machines.” According to the local report, “the current permits include 408 additional casinos that do not operate and, if they are intended to be opened, they will no longer be able to have raffle machines.”
This would apply for the life of the permit, which cannot extend beyond 15 years.
The Mexican Government maintains that “these types of machines are not permitted by the LFJG, which only authorizes dominoes, chess, checkers, bowling, billiards, dice, bowling and raffles,” the local report said.
In other news, online gaming provider 7777 Gaming expanded its presence in Mexico through its ongoing partnership with NetBet. The duo will bring players throughout the region more than 40 games that can be accessed on NetBet’s website.
NetBet will offer players 7777 gaming titles that include Club Mr. Luck, Cash 100, Zeus and Sea of Treasure.
