Are online casinos legal in Mexico?

Short answer

Yes, but not "free": in Mexico, gambling is prohibited by default, except for those directly allowed by the federation. Online formats are possible only in subjects with a valid federal SEGOB permit (through Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos, DGJS) and within the framework of the Regulation to the Law. Offshore sites without such permission are illegal.

What is the legal regime on

1) 1947 law: "everything that is not allowed is prohibited"

Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos (DOF 31. 12. 1947) enshrines a general ban on "chance games and betting games" throughout the country, leaving exceptions to federation permits. It is this norm that still determines the vertical of control.

2) Who allows: SEGOB → DGJS

The operational regulator is DGJS as part of Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB): it authorizes, controls and supervises, maintains registers and applies sanctions. Without its permission, online and offline activities are prohibited.

3) Regulation 2004 (as amended 2023): practical matrix

• Centros de Apuestas Remotas (CAR) - remote betting centers (including an online channel).
• Salons of numerical draws (analogue of bingo/electronic draws).
• The regulations prescribe admission, reporting, promotion and technical control.

Currency: transactions with legal operators are required to be conducted in Mexican pesos (MXN) (Article 10 of the Regulations, updated in 2023).

What does this mean for "online"

Permitted model

Online activity is possible through DGJS permission (often in a CAR configuration), with KYC/AML requirements, geolocation, reporting and promo.

It is forbidden to connect to betting systems outside the country (no "drains" of traffic to external pools/hubs).

Unresolved model (offshore)

Sites without SEGOB/DGJS permission that accept players from Mexico operate outside the law, do not provide local consumer protection, and may violate the currency and AML regime.

How to check the legality of the site (practical checklist)

1. References to SEGOB/DGJS. The site must contain legal details of the permit and links to the rules (Ley/Reglamento/conditions). SEGOB portals have Marco Juridico pages and services with permission/sorter requirements.

2. The transaction currency is MXN. If the site accepts rates and payments in MXN and declares compliance with the Regulations, this is a good check for "locality."

3. CAR frame/interior. For "white" operators, the online part is usually described as CAR or associated with a permitted hall/operator; promotional events are agreed according to the established procedure.

4. Official DGJS channels. If in doubt, check the DGJS User Support Center for permission and format requirements.

Frequent questions

Are online casinos "generally" legal?

Not "in general," but pointwise: only those who have federal permission and comply with the Regulations are legal. The rest are not.

What is CAR and why is everyone talking about it?

This is Centro de Apuestas Remotas - a regulated format for remote acceptance of bets/draws, through which most of the online is issued.

Can I play in dollars/cryptocurrency on a "legal" site?

The regulation requires MXN as the settlement currency for transactions with authorized entities. Alternative currencies are a red flag.

Are lotteries different?

Yes I did. Lotería Nacional works in a special mode (after integration with Pronósticos in 2020), but the general control architecture remains federal.

Basic principle: everything that is not allowed is prohibited; permits - federal (SEGOB/DGJS).

Online casinos/betting in Mexico are legal when registered as CAR/permitted salons and strictly follow the Regulations (latest edits - 16. 11. 2023).

MXN as a currency, local KYC/AML, external pool/link ban and DGJS supervision are the "four corners" of legality. Everything else is offshore with risks for the player.

Playing safely in Mexico means: choosing operators with DGJS permission, checking currency and details, and focusing on the official SEGOB resources at the slightest doubt.