Deputy Alberto Martínez Urincho has presented a proposal before the Mexico City Congress to reform several provisions of the Federal Law on Games and Sweepstakes regarding gambling addiction and regulatory improvements for betting operators, with the aim of “countering the exponential growth of online betting and its impact on young people.”
The initiative seeks to add an Article 1 Bis and amend Article 3 of the legislation, formally defining gambling addiction as an addictive disorder and establishing stricter regulations for digital platforms and gambling providers.
However, because it is a federal law, the proposal must first be approved by the Local Public Administration Commission and then by the Legislative Plenary, after which the corresponding bill would be sent to Congress, where it would continue through the legislative process.
According to Martínez Urincho, the proposal is built around several key measures: formally recognizing gambling addiction as an addiction that directly affects mental health; requiring health and risk warnings from gambling and betting providers; and imposing strict identity verification controls to prevent minors from accessing gambling platforms.
The initiative would also ban misleading advertising and eliminate commercial tactics aimed at attracting vulnerable users. It would also explicitly restrict prediction betting on political events, armed conflicts, natural disasters, humanitarian crises, or any other events that could violate human dignity.
🏛️🎰💰 El legislador Alberto Martínez Urincho (MORENA) propuso reconocer la ludopatía como un problema de adicción e impulsar medidas para su prevención y tratamiento desde una perspectiva de salud mental. pic.twitter.com/AoKWW2M0mP
— Congreso de la Ciudad de México (@Congreso_CdMex) August 5, 2026
“We are witnessing an exponential growth in gambling addiction in Mexico; this is not simply a matter of leisure or entertainment. We are talking about a disorder that causes changes in brain circuits, leading to compulsive behavior despite serious physical, psychological and social consequences,” the lawmaker said.
In presenting the proposal, Martínez Urincho cited official figures indicating that between 4% and 8% of Mexico’s adolescent population displays problematic or dependent behavior related to gambling.
He also highlighted academic estimates from UNAM Global suggesting that up to 3.9 million Mexicans could suffer from gambling addiction, a condition in which affected individuals are reportedly up to 15 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.
Against this backdrop, the Morena lawmaker argued that gambling addiction should be treated as a public health and mental health priority, addressing the anxiety, distress, loneliness and depression associated with the condition.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/08/11/125811-mexico-lawmakers-propose-gambling-law-reform-to-curb-problem-gambling-and-regulate-online-betting
