In a brief speech in Mexico City, López Obrador called for reconciliation after a tough election campaign and promised a profound change that respects the law and constitutional order.
"I have a legitimate ambition: I want to be remembered as a good president of Mexico," López Obrador told his supporters. It is not yet clear exactly where López Obrador is located to legalize, regulate or expand gaming activity.
According to reports, Mexico has a gaming market valued at 10 billion dollars per year, which makes it the second largest in the Latin American market after Argentina. The country also has approximately 320 casinos and space for another 300.
However, the president-elect of Mexico has opposed an expansion of the casino industry.
"It's just a matter of boosting tourism, there's no need to allow casinos," Lopez Obrador said in 2005 when asked about the expansion of the casino industry to create jobs and boost the economy. At that time, he said that the decision not to legislate for casinos "instead of hurting us, benefits us".
Prior to the election, Mexico was in the process of reviewing a new bill of the Federal Gambling Law. If approved, Mexico would have officially recognized the gaming industry and would take steps to create a new regulator to monitor the activity.
The new law would also allow Mexico to impose a tax on bets and operators would have to implement measures against money laundering. It remains to be seen if that bill will continue to be debated in the legislature.
Source: GMB / Mundo Video
