G3 MARKET INSIGHT LATIN AMERICA


a sometimes devastating effect on the poor, the report went on to say that: “Gambling is a business that generates grand sums of money for the benefit of a few at the cost of many.”


Church leaders in the document also countered the argument often put forward by operators and government officials alike that extra tax revenue generated by casinos is used to fund social welfare programmes, arguing instead that “the ends do not justify the means” and called for other forms of generating the necessary tax income.


In perhaps its most controversial section, the report argued (without any evidence to back up these claims) that casinos in Argentina were places of money-laundering, corruption as well as drug and human trafficking.


The church, albeit behind the


scenes, is playing a crucial role in gaming policy in Mexico. President Andrés Manuel


López Obrador has announced that during his six-year term no new licenses will be granted to open any new casinos in


Mexico. The end of the licenses for new gambling operations is part of a gesture to Cardinal


Rogelio Cabrera, current head of the Mexican Episcopate.


P26 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS


Politicians have regularly come under fierce criticism for their attempts to regulate the online market and there is no doubt that the church delayed the licensing of online gambling for many years. While serving as Mayor of the city of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri came out in favour of allowing online gaming in Buenos Aires and, in 2008, argued that extra tax generated by casinos and online gaming could be used to fund social welfare programmes. This was after his government carried out a study into the issue of online gaming and its impact.


However, in the same year, Mr. Macri was forced to make a dramatic turnaround when church leaders sent a letter in opposition to the planned proliferation of gaming activities within the city. The letter was fiercely critical of the “lack of transparency” in the gambling business. Later in 2016, bowing to pressure from members of the


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