Mexico is a country with many passions, one of the most marked is casinos and gambling. It is an industry that generates 7,500 million pesos a year. Income much higher than other industries in the world of entertainment, which speaks of a country that a large percentage of its population tries their luck from time to time in a casino. Here we review how we came to be who we are today.
The “patolli” entertained the indigenous peoples of Mexico
Although it had a certain ceremonial and cultural meaning, the Patolli or Patli it was a board game in which chance played a major role. Similar to “snakes and ladders” or “ludo”, it is a game in which you have to get from point “A” to point “B”. In this case, going around an entire board of 52 squares.
The Teotihuacans, Toltecs, Mayans and the Mexicas used beans as dice and made final bets and in each round. Despite the fact that it could only be played between 2 and 4 people, it is known that spectators could also bet.
Food, vessels, jewelery and slaves were what was most customary to bet on in honor of the god Macuilxochitl Cinco Flor, deity of music and dance.
The Spanish imposed their hobbies
But, the Patolli ended with the arrival of the Spanish. They considered it pagan and dangerous for the stability of the crown, since they did not like the idea that people could lose or win so much money. Despite this, Moctezuma II liked to play cards while he was imprisoned and was allowed to play.
In addition, as is well known, Spaniards and lower caste Europeans arrived in America in the first voyages of Columbus and those who followed him, so The most rudimentary card games were imposed with everything and nothing as a premise.
The upper classes preferred roulette and 21, games that became popular in the first casinos in Europe around the year 1600 and later also reached Mexico.
As the customs of obscurantism were left behind and science permeated society, games with a greater presence of strategy and mathematics began to become popular.
In 1770, the Royal General Lottery of New Spain was created to regulate the game, an institution that survived the period of independence due to its effectiveness in giving legality to betting places and the rules of the game.
Mexico, promised land for casino games
Much is said about the prohibition of alcohol in the United States during the 20th century, but little is said that prohibition extended to gambling. That’s why, President Porfirio Díaz expanded the number of gambling houses throughout Mexico, with special emphasis on the northern states. And a few months later, North American players began to arrive
Since then the game proliferated much more until in 2004 President Vicente Fox approved the New General Law of Games and Draws that gives shape to the current regulations.
The big change that has been seen is in the online game, an industry with not so clear regulations, but which knows how to take advantage of reality. It is that Mexicans no longer go to the casino so much, but play from their smartphone (either Android or iPhone), with access to animated slots, poker tables with players from all over Mexico and the world, as well as many other games.
Being Mexico the most populous Spanish-speaking country and also one of the best economically reality, many world-renowned casinos want to expand to Mexican players.
To find out more about today’s game sale, verify OnlineCasino.mx and learn about the best legal platforms in Mexico. See what their game offer is, find out about their promotions and choose the one that best suits what you are looking for.