Crypto Casino
Torrent Gear
History of gambling in Mexico
Introductory: why Mexico has a special trajectory
The history of gambling in Mexico is a continuous pendulum between culture and control: from communal rituals and court fun of the New World to strict anti-corruption agendas and the social mission of state lotteries. Geography and proximity to the United States made the country a "crossroads" of entertainment, tourism and prohibitions.
Pre-colonial period: Gaming as part of a ritual
Patolli among the peoples of Central Mexico (including the Aztecs) - a board game for luck and strategy; bets were made on corn grains, fabrics, jewelry.
Pok-ta-pok (Mesoamerican ball game) - although it is primarily a sport and ritual, the outcome could be argued, making symbolic or material pledges.
In such practices, "gambling" was embedded in the religious-social order rather than commercialized.
Spanish colonization (XVI-XVIII centuries): European forms and the first lotteries
Spaniards bring card games, dice games and secular lotteries as a way to replenish the treasury.
At the end of the 18th century, the predecessor of the national lottery, Real Lotería, appeared in New Spain. Lottery fees were directed to charity, hospitals and public needs - a tradition that has survived centuries.
A "double morality" is being formed: games are popular in everyday life and salons, but are periodically condemned by the spiritual and secular authorities.
19th century: from salons to political change
Gambling houses at hotels and clubs are growing in cities, especially in trading hubs and ports.
Political coups and liberal reforms are changing the attitude of the state: from tolerance to local bans and vice versa.
Towards the end of the century, cockfighting (pleonasm: "palenque") and racetracks, often with local sweepstakes, were gaining popularity.
Porfiriato and "border Las Vegas" (con. XIX-1930s)
Under Porfirio Diaz, modernization and foreign capital bring resort complexes with casinos.
1920s: Against the backdrop of Prohibition in the United States, border cities - Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez - are experiencing a nightlife boom. The most famous project is Agua Caliente (Tijuana, 1928): a casino, racetrack, spa, golf and show for the American public.
This era is brief: social conflicts and moral criticism are intensifying, and the central government is preparing for prohibitive measures.
The Great Sweep (1935-1938): Course for Prohibition
In the mid-1930s, the federal government closed casinos across the country, citing corruption, laundering and public morality. Complexes like Agua Caliente lose gambling licenses; part of the infrastructure is transferred to educational and cultural needs.
Lotteries and traditional forms of sports/entertainment (bullfighting, cockfighting) remain, but the commercial casino sector is virtually disappearing.
Post-war architecture: the law on games and the socialization of lotteries
1940s-1950s: The federal government enshrines the Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos framework law, recognizing that some games can exist under license and in the public interest.
The Lotería Nacional blossoms, whose draws become a cultural constant; later there will be a separate operator of sports pools - Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública (in the 1970s). Proceeds go to social programs and health care.
In large cities, racetracks and dog tracks (with varying success), bingo and fair draws operate.
End of XX - beginning of XXI century: cautious digitalization and return of halls
1990s-2000s: federal competence for gambling policy is assigned to the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB). The permitted formats are specified: "centers of remote bets" (bets on horse/dog racing and sports), halls of drawing numbers (analogue of bingo/electronic lotteries), sweepstakes, etc.
In the border and tourist zones, modern halls with an electronic park and bookmakers' counters appear - with strict licensing and reporting.
Online has been developing with restraint for a long time: the authorities are focused on offline control, the fight against unlicensed "makinitas" and on updating secondary regulations.
2010s-2020s: lottery consolidation and "digital habits"
Lottery National and "Pronósticos" go through stages of modernization and organizational change; the focus on electronic sales channels, responsible game marketing and transparency of transfers to social goals is increasing.
In the private services market, key trends are sports bets, electronic draws, KYC/AML expansion and abandonment of gray operators.
The development of mobile is changing the consumption model: bets and participation in draws go to the smartphone, but geolocation, age barrier and limits become an obligatory layer of UX.
Cultural stratum: "Lotería Mexicana," palenque, bullfighting
Lotería Mexicana is a cult "bar" card game with iconography (La Sirena, El Catrín, etc.). She is not identical to the state lottery, but supports the image of "lotto" as national fun.
Cockfighting is historically common in the north and rural regions; status depends on local regulations and federal restrictions.
Bullfighting in the 20th-21st centuries - the subject of ethical debate and court decisions on animal rights; its connection with "excitement" today is formerly cultural and historical.
Institutions and control: who "holds the remote control"
SEGOB is the main regulator that issues permits (permіsy) for specific types of games and monitors compliance with the conditions.
Lotería Nacional is a state lottery with a social mission; historical symbol of the "fair draw."
Tax and financial authorities are strengthening KYC/AML supervision, fighting illegal halls and online platforms, and protecting the consumer.
Modern landscape (generalization)
Legal offline sector: licensed draw/betting halls, sweepstakes, entertainment complexes under strict control.
Gosloterei remain a "showcase" of legal excitement, directing funds to health care/social projects.
Online participation is gradually growing, but coexists with a tough approach to unlicensed sites and gray equipment.
Social policy is a priority: responsible play, restriction of aggressive promo, age control, combating problem gambling.
Timeline "in one screen"
Until the 16th century: ritual games (patolli, pok-ta-pok).
XVIII century: colonial lotteries (Real Lotería).
Late XIX-1920s: salons, hippodromes, boom of border casinos (Agua Caliente).
1935-1938: Federal casino closure.
1940s-1950s: Gaming and Sweepstakes Act; strengthening of goslotheres.
1970s: "Pronósticos" are sport pools for social care.
1990s-2000s: regulatory renewal, licensing of halls and sweepstakes.
2010s-2020s: lottery consolidation, digital channels, hard KYC/AML.
What is important to understand today (for the reader)
1. Historical compromise. Mexico retains cultural forms of excitement, but everywhere requires licenses and reporting.
2. Social mission of lotteries. Practical jokes are not only entertainment, but also a tool of public programs.
3. Safety first. It is worth playing only on permitted sites, with an age/personality check and visible rules of responsible play.
From pre-colonial tabletop rituals to modern electronic draws and regulated halls, the Mexican history of gambling reminds that legitimacy rests on three pillars: culture, social benefits and control. It is their balance that determines which formats develop, which ones disappear, and how the country protects its unique entertainment tradition.