Mexico pushes for gambling law reform ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

The tournament, to be hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, offers a historic opportunity for the country’s gaming industry.

Earlier this month, the AIEJA (Association of Gaming Permit Holders, Operators and Suppliers) reiterated its call for a revision of the 1947 Federal Gaming and Raffles Law, outdated in the face of mobile betting, digital casinos, and online platforms. This gap leaves Mexican players unprotected while depriving the state of vital tax revenue.

Industry leaders are calling for action: Aviv Sher (Codere) described the World Cup as a “golden opportunity” for the sector, while JD Duarte (Betcris) warned that “without reforms, players will turn to unregulated foreign platforms”. Meanwhile, Yono Sidi (Winpot) proposed creating a consultative council of operators to work directly with regulators on effective reform.

The Interior Ministry is leading the drafting of a new legal framework. According to Miguel Ángel Ochoa Sánchez, AIEJA president, stakeholder consultations are complete and the bill is now in its final stages.

“For the first time, we are close to having a new law,” Ochoa said at GAT Expo CDMX. “It will be a decisive step in regulating a market still bound by 77-year-old legislation.”

Betting volumes traditionally surge during the World Cup, with a single month equalling an entire year’s activity. As a co-host, Mexico is expected to see record-breaking betting activity starting June 2026.

With less than a year to go, lawmakers face growing pressure: the World Cup is both a regulatory challenge and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a modern, safe, and competitive gambling market. The 68th FIFA Congress, held in Moscow in June 2018, determined that the hosts of the next championship, to be played between June 9 and July 18, will be the United States, Mexico, and Canada.