Mexican Authorities Face Pushback After Seizure of 3,374 Maquinitas in State Enforcement Action

Mexico’s enforcement campaign against illegal gambling devices is facing resistance from machine owners and operators. Questions have emerged over the legal status and ownership of thousands of small coin-operated machines seized in the State of Mexico.

The latest enforcement action, Operativo Dos de Bastos, resulted in the seizure of 3,374 maquinitas across 84 municipalities in July. The operation was led by the State of Mexico Attorney General’s Office, with support from the armed forces and National Guard under the National Strategy against Extortion. Authorities recovered 9.697 tonnes of coins from the machines, valued at around MXN9 million (approximately $500,000).

The seizures prompted members of the Unión Nacional de Maquineros, or UNAMA, to protest outside the FGJEM headquarters in Toluca on August 19. The group demanded return of the confiscated equipment and clarification on investigation files.

Operator Resistance to Blanket Criminal Characterization

UNAMA President Araceli Gutiérrez Caballero rejected what she described as a blanket characterization of operators as criminals. “We are the owners, we are the ones who operate them and pay the people who work there,” she said. “Let them prove it, not just say it.”

Gutiérrez Caballero stated that UNAMA members could produce invoices and tax records covering their machines. She called on authorities to differentiate legitimate business owners from individuals involved in criminal activity.

The dispute centers on the distinction between maquinitas placed in small businesses and electronic gaming machines operating in licensed casinos. Mexico’s 2023 regulatory reform generally prohibits slot machines and prevents new casino slot-machine operations, although some casinos continue operating legacy electronic gaming machines under pre-existing permits, transitional provisions or court protections.

Pending Bill and Prospects for Court Contestation

Morena deputy Pedro Miguel Haces Barba introduced a bill on April 15 that would expressly establish a slot-machine ban in the Federal Law on Games and Raffles. The proposal provides for prison terms of two to four years, fines, confiscation of machines and permanent closure of premises involved in prohibited-machine activity. The bill remains pending in the Chamber of Deputies.

As reported by Yogonet International, the protest has raised the prospect that the status and ownership of individual machines seized by authorities could now be contested through the courts. Regulators will need to address these ownership claims with specific evidence rather than generalized assertions if enforcement is to withstand legal scrutiny. Clearer criteria for separating prohibited devices from permitted legacy equipment would reduce litigation risk while maintaining focus on criminal revenue streams.

Reporting: Yogonet International

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