In Rosarito alone, which has been in pretty bad shape since 9/11, there's gotta be $1 million+ per year spent by expat poker players in the local economy.
If Spain & France are the model, what evidence/articles are there out there to show that things aren't quite working out as they had hoped with segregation? What about the European countries who have stayed tapped into the ROW pool and how it's working out for them ($$-wise and easier/less regulatory burden)?
Mexico's online player pool has to be quite a bit smaller than both France and Spain. It makes segregation a tougher go.
The US state-by-state model could be a cautionary tale with the struggles to get the necessary liquidity to run profitable sites (i.e. the Fertitas/Station's recent failure in Nevada).
If Caliente has their hands in/on this bill, there's still ways for them to profit (i.e. requiring ROW online operators to partner with a land-based interest like in New Jersey) without having to take on this new venture alone and risk losses.
For Mexico's existing poker community - cutting off online players from ROW sites hinders their development in the game/sport quite significantly. You don't develop future LAPT and WSOP champions by severely limiting where they can play and compete. Plus, segregation makes it more difficult for them to build up the necessary bankroll to compete at the biggest events in the World and rep their country.
Once this gambling bill passes, Mexico is going to be a great spot to host international poker competitions (LAPT, etc.). ROW sites facilitate a big international presence through online qualifiers, which should only be a good thing for Mexico.
A lot of expat poker players, when back in their home countries, are good ambassadors for Mexico and it's tourism industry. That is, many of us tell all our friends & family back home how nice Mexico truly is, and that many of the foreign headlines are very misrepresentative Mexico and the people as a whole.
That's all I got.
También Tijuana deportes y tacos. Por favor, no segregar!