History of Gambling in Mexico
Gambling in Mexico dates back to the 19th century, the Aztecs’ time when the French were on a quest to colonize the Mexicans. Due to their influence, casinos resembling their culture were introduced under the reign of Porfirio Diaz. As a result, locals could gamble easily, despite their popularity, which was slowly gaining traction.
The United States of America banned gambling, forcing the eviction of all gamblers and casino operators alike. Players had no other viable option except storming the simultaneously growing Mexican gambling industry. Even so, it didn’t go as well as they expected.
Casinos and other gambling entities in Mexico grew in popularity. This drew the attention of the federal government, led by President Lazaro Cardenas.
He later banned all gambling activities in the country, lowering the traction of all gambling activities. However, the ban only fell to some casinos, as some continued with the business underground. They even had loyal supporters.
Mexicans continued playing illegally at these casinos until 1989, when the first sportsbook company (Caliente) was established and licensed. This marked an important landmark towards legalizing gambling in Mexico, as more positive gambling debates were raised.
This, in turn, triggered licensing of various casino halls totaling 200 by 2006, hence limited legalization. As of now, more casinos have taken the Mexican market by storm. There are over 800 casinos in operation, serving players their cup of tea.
Similarly, many Mexican players can now play at their comfort with the legalization of online casinos. This, in turn, has stimulated the rate of gambling in Mexico, fueling an increase in revenue raised from this economic sector.