The Mexican state of Jalisco is preparing a major reform of its criminal legislation to prevent minors from accessing slot machines. Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro announced that his administration will submit a bill to the Congress of the State of Jalisco to amend Article 142-A of the Jalisco State Criminal Code, explicitly making it a criminal offense to facilitate, encourage or promote the participation of children and adolescents in games of chance through slot machines or other mechanical gaming devices. The proposal was unveiled on 14 July 2026 during a meeting of the State Executive Security Commission.
- Jalisco targets illegal slot machines in Mexico
The initiative seeks to strengthen child protection by introducing, for the first time, a legal definition of "games of chance", closing legal loopholes that have complicated the prosecution of these offenses. It also proposes tougher criminal penalties for individuals who allow or encourage minors to use gaming machines, while promoting public awareness campaigns on the risks of gambling addiction among children and teenagers.
Governor Pablo Lemus said the reform is based on the principle of the best interests of the child, arguing that early exposure to gambling poses significant risks to the healthy development of minors. "Our main concern and priority in Jalisco is protecting our children and adolescents," he stated while presenting the proposal.
Rosa Icela Rodríguez
Under the current Article 142-A, offenders face three to six years in prison, financial penalties and enhanced sanctions when the victim is under 12 years of age. The amendment would broaden the scope of the offense by expressly including minors' access to slot machines, providing prosecutors and law enforcement authorities with stronger legal tools.
Although casinos and gambling activities in Mexico are regulated at the federal level under the Federal Gaming and Sweepstakes Law, administered by the Directorate General of Gaming and Sweepstakes within the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB), headed by Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Jalisco has the authority to establish criminal sanctions aimed at protecting minors. The proposal will now move to the Congress of Jalisco, where lawmakers will debate and vote on a reform that could create one of Mexico's strongest criminal frameworks against minors' access to gambling activities.
