MEXICO Law and Practice Contributed by: Ricardo García Giorgana, Carlos Chavez Alanis and Xavier Careaga Franco, Galicia Abogados
In-Game Purchases, Loot Boxes and Gambling Elements
encourages interoperable electronic authentica - tion across parties. Specific transactions may require certifications or performance standards. Digital Identity Schemes Mexico is gradually implementing a national digi - tal identity scheme, with the CURP ( Clave Única de Registro de Población ; Unique Population Registry Code) serving as a cornerstone of its ecosystem. The regulation of gaming in Mexico is complex and fragmented. While gambling has a long regulatory history, modern video games, particu - larly those with online elements, are not explicitly addressed. Key Laws and Regulations The 1947 Federal Gaming and Sweepstakes Law prohibits games of chance, except for author - ised activities like lotteries, casinos and sports betting, which require a Secretary of the Interior ( Secretaría de Gobernación ; SEGOB) licence. Only permitted games can be advertised. The law primarily focuses on traditional gambling, offering little guidance for modern gaming. The 2004 Regulations of the Federal Gaming and Sweepstakes Law provide additional rules for authorised gambling but do not address digi - tal or video game-related activities. 9. Gaming Industry 9.1 Regulations Consumer protection laws may ensure transpar - ency and prevent deceptive practices in gam - ing, particularly regarding in-game purchases and loot boxes.
Mexico has no specific regulations for in-game purchases or loot boxes. Gambling laws apply only to games of chance, not skill-based games. If a game with loot boxes is deemed predomi - nantly chance-based, it may fall under the Fed - eral Gaming and Sweepstakes Law, requiring SEGOB authorisation. Online Gambling Regulation Land-based casinos can obtain licences for online gambling, but there is no framework for standalone online operators, creating a regula - tory grey area. Age Ratings and Content Restrictions Mexico has mandatory age rating regulations, issued by SEGOB in 2020 and based on the Law on Children and Adolescents. These ratings aim to protect minors from inappropriate content and roughly align with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) system in the USA. The ratings use categories A (E), B (E 10+), B15 (T), C (M) and D (Ao), and include required warnings, content descriptions and interactive element disclosures for parental controls. The regulation mandates disclosure of in-game purchases, loot boxes, UGC, shared geolocation and similar interactive features before purchase. Industry Codes of Conduct and Best Practices Mexico lacks specific industry codes of conduct for the gaming sector. Developers and publish - ers often follow international best practices related to development, marketing and player protection. eSports Regulation eSports in Mexico remain unregulated, operat - ing in a legal grey area. While existing laws on
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