Online gambling is legal and regulated in Mexico, but only through operators that hold — or partner with a holder of — a permit from the Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos (DGJS) within the Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB). Mexico issues no standalone online-only licences; regulated sites operate as the digital extension of a land-based permit, usually on a .mx domain. Many offshore sites also serve Mexican players but sit outside this framework. Players pay tax on prizes via withholding at source, and from 1 January 2026 operators face a sharply higher excise tax.

Gambling in Mexico is governed by the 1947 Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos (Federal Law of Games and Lotteries) and its 2004 Regulations, administered by the DGJS/SEGOB. There is no dedicated online-gambling statute. In practice, the regulator treats internet betting as an activity a land-based permit-holder may run online, so licensed operators offer sports betting, casino and lottery products on .mx sites. According to DGJS data reported as of 30 September 2025, Mexico had more than 350 licensed land-based casinos and more than 30 digital operators authorised under the .mx domain (figures are approximate and change as permits are updated).

A long-awaited overhaul is in motion. Since 2025 SEGOB has run working groups on modernising the 1947 law, and a bill to replace it (“Ley Federal de Juegos con Apuesta y Sorteos”) would create a new autonomous regulator. Treat this reform as pending, not law.

Licensed vs offshore operators

TypeExamplesNotes
SEGOB-permitted (.mx)Caliente, Codere, Strendus, Winpot, Logrand/Big BolaRegulated locally; peso banking; local recourse
OffshoreInternational crypto sportsbooks and casinosAccept Mexican players but not SEGOB-regulated

Licensed .mx operators are the safer choice: they answer to the DGJS and use domestic payment rails. Offshore sites may offer wider markets and crypto but provide no local consumer protection. You can check an operator’s permit number in its site footer against the public registry published by the DGJS on gob.mx.

Payment methods locals actually use

Mexican bettors lean on peso-based rails rather than crypto:

  • SPEI — the interbank electronic transfer system; effectively instant, low or zero fees, run through banking apps.
  • OXXO Pay — cash vouchers paid at OXXO convenience stores, popular with the large unbanked/underbanked population (deposits only; withdrawals need another method).
  • Debit/credit cards — Visa and Mastercard.
  • E-wallets — Skrill and Neteller on some sites.

Crypto (USDT, plus BTC and LTC) is offered mainly by offshore sportsbooks, which convert to pesos at market rates. It is not a feature of the SEGOB-regulated .mx ecosystem, and it is neither specifically legalised nor banned for individual players; it simply falls outside the regulated system.

Tax on player winnings

Prizes are taxed by withholding at source — the organiser deducts the tax before paying you. Under Article 138 of the Income Tax Law (LISR), the federal rate is 1% of the prize where the state levies no local tax on the prize or a local tax of 6% or less, plus the relevant state tax; in states whose local tax exceeds 6%, the federal rate is 21%. The exact deduction depends on the state.

Separately, operators were hit hard in the 2026 fiscal package: the special excise tax (IEPS) on games with bets and sweepstakes was raised from 30% to 50%, approved by Congress in late 2025 and effective 1 January 2026. This is an operator-level tax on gaming revenue, not a new tax on your winnings, though it may reshape odds and bonuses.

Safer gambling resources

Licensed platforms increasingly offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. For help with problem gambling, Jugadores Anónimos México (jamexico.org) runs free 12-step meetings across the country and online. Government addiction support is coordinated through the Comisión Nacional contra las Adicciones (CONADIC).

18+ only. Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. If it stops being fun, seek help.

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