Mexico has taken a step closer to taxation violent video games after the House of Commons approved such a levy as part of a broader tax package. The bill now heads to the Senate, raising the possibility of higher prices and increased regulatory scrutiny in one of Latin America's largest gambling markets.
A 2025 Human Rights Watch report says Mexico continues to experience “extremely high rates” of murders and other violent crimes. The trend peaked in 2022, when six Mexican cities recorded homicide rates exceeding 100 per 100,000 residents. Nationally, the homicide rate has decreased slightly in recent years and currently stands at about 25 per 100,000. However, an increase in reported disappearances over the same period suggests that the true rate of homicide may not have changed significantly, if at all. Much of the country's violence has been linked to drug cartels, which have proven difficult for the government to crack down on over the years.
Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approves 8% tax on violent video games
While the video game industry's connection to real-life violence is far more dubious, it creates an easier legislative target. It has now found itself in the crosshairs of the Mexican parliament, whose lower house – the Chamber of Deputies – voted to approve an 8% tax on violent video games on 17 October. The measure was included in Mexico's proposed economic package for 2026, which was presented as part of “health taxes, gambling, sugar taxes and higher taxes on bacco.
Mexico's new tax proposal also targets other types of video games
The proposal can more accurately be described as a tax on mature video games, as it targets not only violent titles but all with the ratings C (18+) and D (adults only) as defined by the Mexican Equivalency System for video game content classification. The first draft of the law was originally introduced on September 14, with a budget presentation from the Department of Finance claiming that “recent studies have found a link between the use of violent video games and higher levels of aggression among young people, as well as negative social and psychological effects such as isolation and anxiety.” No concrete studies were cited in the presentation.
What's next for Mexico's proposed 2026 economic package
The proposal now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to be debated in the coming weeks. The Union Congress has a deadline of November 15 to decide whether to pass the legislation. The current draft isn't clear on whether the fee would apply to both physical and digital sales, and where it stands on things like subscriptions, DLC, and other types of microtransactions. Should the general proposal be accepted, the Senate version of the law will likely clarify these issues.
The violent video game tax would be added on top of Mexico's existing sales tax, which has been at 16% since 2010. The finance ministry said the reasoning behind the measure was to raise resources to help people suffering from negative social and psychological effects blamed on video games.
Sources: Human Rights Watch, Insider Gaming
