Mexico moves one step closer to imposing taxes. violent video games After the House approved such a levy as part of a broader fiscal package. The legislative proposal now heads to the Senate, raising the possibility of higher prices and increased regulatory scrutiny in one of Latin America's largest gaming markets.
Murders and other violent crimes continue to occur at “very high rates” in Mexico, according to a 2025 report by Human Rights Watch. This trend peaked in 2022, when six cities in Mexico recorded murder rates exceeding 100 per 100,000 residents. Nationally, the murder rate has declined slightly in recent years and is now around 25 per 100,000 people. However, the increase in reported disappearances over the same period suggests that the actual murder rate may not have changed much. Much of the country's violence is linked to drug cartels, which have proven difficult for the government to crack down on over the years.
Mexican House of Representatives approves 8% tax on violent video games
The link between the video game industry and real-life violence is much more ambiguous, but the legislative targets are easier. Now the bill is in the crosshairs of Mexico's Congress, where the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives, voted on Oct. 17 to approve an 8% levy on violent video games. The bill was included in Mexico's proposed 2026 economic package, presented as part of a “health tax” that would also include higher levies on sugary drinks, cigarettes and gambling.
Mexico's new tax proposal also targets other types of video games
The proposal could be more accurately described as a mature video games tax, as it targets not only violent titles, but also the C (18+) and D (Adults Only) ratings defined by Mexico's video game content classification system. The first draft of the law was originally introduced alongside the Treasury's budget announcement on September 14, claiming that “recent research has found a link between the use of violent video games and higher levels of aggression in young people, as well as negative social and psychological impacts such as isolation and anxiety.” No specific studies were cited in the announcement.
Next steps in Mexico's proposed 2026 economic package
The proposal will now go to the Senate, where it is expected to be debated in the coming weeks. Congress has set a deadline of November 15 to decide whether to enact the law. The current draft is unclear whether the levy would apply to both physical and digital sales, or to items such as subscriptions, DLC and other types of microtransactions. If the general proposal is accepted, the Senate's version of the law would likely clarify these issues.
The violent video games tax would be levied on top of Mexico's existing value added tax (VAT), which has remained at 16% since 2010. The Treasury said the reason for the move was to free up resources to help people suffering from the negative social and psychological effects of video games.
Source: Human Rights Watch, Insider Gaming
