On September 1, 2026, in the Historic Center of Guadalajara, Mexico, police arrested a man and a woman suspected of fraud related to the 'juego de la bolita'. ^[1] Police recovered approximately 4,000 pesos from the detained suspects, which was allegedly money given by the victim. ^[2] The suspects allegedly demanded 7,000 pesos from a victim as part of the fraud scheme. ^[3] Gabriela Bastida stated that sales for 2026 were 40% lower than the previous year. ^[4] Jaime Pérez attributed the decrease in household purchases of patriotic items to a reduction in family spending. ^[5] Jaime Pérez, a vendor in Mexico City's Centro Histórico, explained that the late start of the 2026-2027 school year shifted demand for patriotic goods closer to September, whereas purchases previously began in mid-August. ^[6] Jaime Pérez, whose family has sold patriotic items since 1902, stated that the delay in the school cycle caused customers to wait until closer to September to buy flags, ribbons, and tricolor chains. ^[7] The fraud was connected to the 'juego de la bolita', a form of gambling. ^[8]