Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (SEGOB) Licensed Online Casinos and information on Mexico Regulatory Body 2023

Overview

Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (SEGOB) or the Mexican Ministry of Interior has a lot of different responsibilities besides regulating and monitoring all forms of gambling activities in the country, such as fostering the economic and political development of the country and assisting other governmental agencies. 

According to the main piece of legislation, different forms of gambling are legal in Mexico if licensed by Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (SEGOB). These legal gambling activities in Mexico include:

• Online Casinos 
• Sports Betting
• Land-Based Casinos
• Instant Lotteries
• Bingo

Two main pieces of gambling legislation enforced in Mexico are the Federal Gaming and Sweepstakes and the Federal Gaming and Raffles law. Many years later, the government introduced new gambling regulations to support the growth of the Mexican gambling sector. 

Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (SEGOB) is the main regulatory body overseeing different types of gambling activities, including casino gaming (table and card games, slots), poker games, bingo, sports betting activities, horse race betting, fantasy betting, lotteries, skill games, and social gaming.

According to the main piece of gambling legislation, gambling activities are forbidden unless authorized by the SEGOB. Essentially, the SEGOB is the only regulatory authority with the power to issue gambling-related permits. While Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (SEGOB) is the main gambling regulatory body, local governments in Mexico have the right to prevent new land-based casinos from opening their doors in their territory. With this being said, land-based casinos cannot legally operate in several Mexican regions, including the states of Nuevo Leon, Guanajuato, and Tlaxcala.

When it comes to applying for a license from the SEGOB, the process is usually hassle-free. According to the main piece of legislation, any Mexican company can apply to obtain a permit to offer gambling-related services and products. Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (SEGOB) issues four different gambling permits, including a permit to operate greyhounds and horse racetracks. The same permit also allows the running a remote sports betting facility, online casino, and other remote gambling services and products. 

The SEGOB also issues permits for running gambling-related services and products at national fairs, permits for drawings, and permits for running temporary horse racetracks. However, operators wanting to run land-based casinos and non-remote sports betting venues must obtain additional permits.

When it comes to the process of obtaining gaming permits from the SEGOB, the process is not standardized, meaning it can vary from one area to another. However, the Mexican regulatory body always assesses different factors to make sure licensing requirements are met, such as reviewing the integrity of new applicants, looking into their staff members, and checking their previous business activity. Licenses to casinos and sports betting sites are issued for a minimum period of one year. Licensed operators pay 30% of their gross gaming revenues in taxes.