Mexico accelerates the modernization of its gambling regulation: everything you need to know

The gaming market in Mexico is going through one of the most important regulatory processes in recent years. During 2026, the legislative and administrative agenda has focused on strengthening transparency, increasing oversight and updating the regulatory framework to respond to the growth of online betting, a segment that has transformed the industry much faster than current legislation has.

The public registry of permits, the main legislative novelty in Mexico

The most recent initiative arose in the Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union, where Deputy Rubén Ignacio Moreira Valdez presented a point of agreement to urge the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB), through the General Directorate of Games and Sweepstakes (DGJS), to publish an open, complete and transparent registry of all current permits for physical casinos and online sports betting platforms.

In this sense, he explained exclusively to Solo Azar The expert in gambling legislation Gerardo Ballesteros Félix Díaz explained that the exhortation promoted by Moreira Valdez "puts the finger on the sore spot on an ecosystem that has grown by leaps and bounds, but that still drags asymmetries of information and regulatory challenges inherited from legislation that originally dates back to 1947"

For the sector, the measure represents a step towards greater legal certainty and a mechanism to combat illegal supply, especially in the digital environment.

Legislation that seeks modernization to keep up with the market

The regulatory debate has as a background a long-standing problem: the industry continues to rely on the Federal Law of Games and Sweepstakes, enacted in 1947, when gambling was practically limited to physical establishments.

Although the sector has evolved through regulations, administrative permits and criteria issued by the SEGOB, the growth of online platforms, cross-border operations and new payment systems has highlighted the need to modernize the legal framework.

Supervision and regularization of digital operators

In addition to boosting transparency, during 2026 the Mexican authorities have intensified their strategy of supervision of the industry.

Among the priorities are the strengthening of control mechanisms over operators, the regularization of digital platforms – including those with the participation of foreign companies – and the updating of administrative criteria to adapt them to the reality of the digital market. At the same time, tax modifications have also been promoted that increase the tax burden on certain activities related to gambling and betting.

Transparency as a tool against illegality

In conclusion, the exhortation presented in Congress does not propose new restrictions for the industry, but greater accountability.

The creation of a public registry would make it possible to quickly identify which casinos and betting sites operate with current permits granted by the SEGOB, facilitating the detection of unauthorized operators and offering greater guarantees to both consumers and investors.

In an industry where trust and regulatory compliance are increasingly relevant, the availability of official and accessible information is emerging as one of the pillars of Mexican regulation for the coming years.

In this context, SiGMA North America 2026 will bring together the main leaders of the industry in Mexico City. SoloAzar will closely cover the event with interviews, analysis and news for its readers. Those who plan to attend can still get a 30% discount on their registration by using the code Soloazar30SIGMA, an exclusive benefit for the SoloAzar community.