Mexican Lottery

National Lottery Building, Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City

The history of the Mexican Lottery stretches all the way back to the 18th Century, with the Royal General Lottery of New Spain. From the beginning, proceeds have been used for public works and charities, including the rebuilding of the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Under the auspices of the Academy of Fine Arts in San Carlos, the lottery also allowed students to study in art and architecture, both at home and abroad, as well as contributing to the design and creation of much of Mexico’s railroads. Additionally, the Mexican contribution to the 1904 World’s Fair was funded in large part by the lottery. Currently, the The National Lottery of Mexico (Lotería Nacional para la Asistencia Pública and Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública) is overseen by the Department of Treasury and contributes mainly toward education and health programs.

In 2008, the National Lottery joined the Internet Age with an online lottery website, further proof that Mexicans are wired (or wireless!) and comfortable with online gambling. While certain restrictions still apply (so be sure to check the fine print!) Mexicans are free to take advantage of the full online gambling experience. And with sports betting fully legal in all parts of Mexico, sports betting sites provide a perfect forum in which to bet on a full range of sports events.

With the somewhat ambiguous nature of Mexican gambling laws (for more information, refer to the page of the same name on this site), the lottery may seem like the only legitimate gambling option available to Mexicans. Nothing could be further from the truth! The recent interest in casino gambling has stirred the construction of new casinos, but most are still in the design and planning stages. Until they become a reality (or if you happen to be less than overjoyed about the travel distance or variety of games available at the few existing casinos) you can certainly try gambling online.