Mexican Gambling Industry Pushes for Up-to-Date Rules Before World Cup 2026

Mexico’s betting businesses want lawmakers to update old laws before the FIFA World Cup 2026. Industry leaders say if changes do not happen, chances to grow might be lost.

AIEJA Calls for New Regulations as World Cup Expected to Boost Gambling

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. People expect it to lead to a lot of bets. For Mexico, as one of the host countries, betting companies think this event could kick off huge growth in online gambling.

The Association of Permit Holders, Operators, and Suppliers of the Entertainment and Gambling Industry (AIEJA) has urged the government to revise the country’s Federal Gaming and Lottery Law from 1947. During a recent industry meeting in Lisbon, company leaders expressed worries that the current rules do not work well for online gambling.

Codere’s Chief Executive, Aviv Sher, said the World Cup would change things for gross gaming revenue (GGR), with Mexico in a good position as a host country. He claimed that the event will speed up growth and show the problems with current rules if changes do not happen soon.

Echoing this view, Betcris Chairman JD Duarte cautioned that too much regulation or lack of action could halt progress. He pointed out that during every World Cup, betting activity jumps, cramming a year’s business into one month. He believes that if Mexico is not ready, a big chunk of betting might go to unregulated or offshore bookmakers.

Industry Heads Push to Create Joint Advisory Team to Help Shape Mexico’s Betting Laws

Yono Sidi, Chief Executive of Winpot, suggested forming an advisory group of operators to work with regulators on crafting new rules. He emphasized that getting the industry involved would make it simpler to create policies that are doable, enforceable, and in line with protecting customers.

AIEJA President Dr. Miguel Ángel Ochoa Sánchez received a call to lead efforts to close the divide between companies and regulators. Duarte asked the association to start an organized talk that could create a clear, updated regulatory plan. He stressed that operators want to share their knowledge to make sure changes help both the industry and Mexican consumers instead of bringing in measures that might cause unexpected problems.

With the tournament starting in less than a year, lawmakers face growing pressure to take action. For those involved, the World Cup is both a challenge and a chance: an opportunity to show off a competitive, regulated betting market, or risk falling behind areas with clearer, more modern rules.