The Law of Games and Draws not to be modified this year

Legislator Octavio Martínez Vargas, president of the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Representatives, said that, on the current sessions of the parliament, there will not be presented any initiative for the creation of a new Games and Draw Legislation.

„I don’t know any document on the matter and I am sure there is not enough time to debate the issue. Maybe next year, but for the moment, in the Tourism Commission we do not have any project to be put to consultation”, he pointed.

He remarked that it is an issue to be analyzed in deep and requires the commitment of all the sectors involved, so a national consultation could be carried out, that will count will the participation of businessmen, local and federal authorities and representatives of the society, so they may express their opinions.

„We cannot take unilateral decisions in a so sensitive matter“, pointed the representative, who also acknowledged the willingness shown by SEGOB authorities to participate in the process, with the aim that legislators count with all shorts of help and adequate information.

So, once all points of view are presented, he said, they would be integrated in a bill in which, once approved, al gambling venues of this kind already operating in the country could be regulated.

Martínez Vargas commented that, in order to carry on this analysis, there is no time on the current ordinary period to present it, because it will be concluded next Thursday 11th, so the initiative to create a new Law of Games and Draws could be presented in the second period of sessions (February-April 2009) of the third year of exercise of the LX Congress

It is not about banning, he pointed, but regulating an activity that could generate important sources of employment, especially in some tourist zones and in other states that present some poor areas. However, the most important thing is to avoid the presence of organized crime and “money laundering” in this sector.

Martínez Vargas said that a deep research must be performed on the subject, with the Opinion of experts, so this activity contributes to the economic development and is not related to corruption or organized crime.