Improvements for Mexico’s National Lottery
The National Lottery of Mexico is in discussion about how to improve its operations after it celebrated its 252nd anniversary. This discussion took place last week between the National Lottery and Mexico’s National Commission for Regulatory Improvement, and included general director Margarita González Saravia and commissioner Alberto Montoya Martín del Campo. Both parties feel that there is work to be done to bring the lottery up to speed with global lotteries, and plenty of room for innovation.
Mexico’s National Lottery recently launched its official online lottery site and has more innovations in mind.
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Determining the lottery’s history through innovation
This joint meeting was called mainly to work through the National Lottery’s current operating rules and set of regulations. The two involved parties met to discuss how regulations work — or do not work — to make sure lottery play is a safe and smooth process for all involved. They also discussed the social benefits resulting from lottery spending for Mexico’s citizens.
“Innovation” was also a key word for the meeting. About a month ago, the National Lottery opened its first online sales site. The lottery also announced further information regarding the digitization of lottery gaming in the Central American country. Apparently a new framework of rules allowed for the online site to go forward.
This framework was created in conjunction with Transfer and Payment System (STP), a company specialized in online payment processes. STP and the lottery confirmed that the new system will allow for several advances in digital gaming, including online lotto, electronic raffles, and other contests. They will be widely available to players in Mexico.
Up until these new advances were put into motion, the lottery was somewhat behind the times in terms of its technologies. General director González Saravia shared that the new tools behind the website and other electronic games will be a game changer for the lottery and its 250-year-plus history.
The online hub for all draws is found at alegrialoteria.com. Players can register here to prove their age and buy tickets electronically for all draws. Results for these draws will appear on the site as well. Some of the included games are Melate, ProGol, Sorteo Mayor, Tris, and Sorteo Zodiaco, a popular zodiac-themed prize draw.
A tax exemption for a special draw
The lottery also celebrated last week with its Great Special Draw 263 on September 15, 2022. This special lottery boasted a prize of $11.9 million USD. It also included eight macro lots courtesy of Playa Espiritu Sinaloa. This particular prize was instituted by the lottery with support from Mexico’s National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (known as Fonatur).
In an exciting move, Mexico City’s government also declared that winners of the Great Special Draw will have their taxes forgiven. This tax exemption will apply to all who win a lottery, raffle or any kind of contest associated with the Great Special Draw 263. This decision was made in order to encourage more players to take part.
This comes just a few months after a major overhaul to taxation in Nuevo León casinos. To satisfy operators, the tax per slot machine has been reduced. The government’s interest in online gaming innovation may also be connected to the difficulties experienced across the nation due to casino closures in the last two years. Online gaming has seen a boom in response.
Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador also spoke about the prize. According to the president, earnings for the Great Special Draw are earmarked for important hydraulic works like the Santa María dam. This dam will help provide more drinking water to Mexico. It also will be a part of vital irrigation developments and sustainable electricity production.
252 years of the National Lottery
The Mexican National Lottery celebrated its 252nd anniversary in August 2022. The lottery was originally founded on August 7, 1770, and has survived through the centuries thanks to its popularity and perceived benefit to the public via cultural, educational, touristic, health and infrastructural funds.
2022 also saw another major step for the lottery. The lottery is now run as a collaboration between two institutions: the National Lottery for Public Assistance and the Forecasts for Public Assistance. The idea of the merger is that both institutions have important experience and knowledge to offer, and it will be easier for the two to work together as a single company to move the lottery towards a brighter future.
