Mexican president could push through gaming reforms

Mexico’s outgoing President Felipe Calderon could still move to change the country’s gaming regulations, it has been claimed.

Presidential elections are to take place in a week’s time and, although this means few laws will be enacted in this short time, President Calderon could still use his presidential decree to push through amendments to Mexico’s outdated gaming laws.

Last year’s deadly arson attack on Casino Royale in Monterrey prompted the authorities to impose a ban on card games and roulette. This brought an end to a period of market liberalisation that had seen Class III slots and live table games, albeit as the result of new interpretations of the existing legal framework.

Alfredo Lazcano Sámano, managing partner and director of Lazcano Sámano, told InterGaming that despite the imminent elections, long overdue changes could still be made to the regulations.

“Legally, there is not enough time for the Federal Congress to pass the pending bills of law that have been proposed by different Congressmen in the last few years,” he said. “Despite the limited time, I have first hand information that the administration of the outgoing President Felipe Calderon, in respectful commemoration of the anniversary of Casino Royale, is making its best efforts to act responsibly in this area by proposing essential amendments to the gaming regulations. It is still possible to achieve this by presidential decree.”