(Mexico).- The law project was presented for the first time last October but it still ahs to be voted on. This is not the first time the floor debate has been delayed. If the law is approved casinos won´t be opened until 2009.

The president of the Tourism Committee, Francisco López Mena, has ruled out the possibility of the law being approved before the ending of the ordinary sessions of the Mexican Parliament, due on April 30th.

"The current law dates from 1947 and is totally obsolete now; that´s why we are trying to find a way to control this situation with the new law; unfortunately, we didn´t make it (to the floor debate)," said López Mena. Mexico has a high number of illegal gambling venues throughout the country, and Mexican society is divided on whether to allow casinos or not.

In spite of these divisions, Mena has underscored the benefits that casinos would bring, like job creation, tax revenues for the State and the chance of regional development. Last time the law was close to being debated more studies were requested and the law was delayed.

Yogonet.com / Terra Mexico