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Mexican Betting Sites

Mitchell South

by Mitchell South

Updated Jan 2, 2024 · 3:15 PM PST

Online sports betting is growing in popularity in Mexico. As more online betting sites compete for your business, finding a reputable sportsbook can be challenging.

You might be wondering which sites are legitimate. Even among the safe and secure options, the quality of the sportsbook  experience can vary widely.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 Mexican betting sites based on our tests, trials, and research reviewing hundreds of online betting sites over the years.

Click the “Read Review” button next to each sportsbook to learn all the details of that particular site, from bonus offers to banking options and more.

Read on for a guide to the most important info about online betting for Mexican sports bettors. We cover tax considerations, the available deposit/withdrawal options, and more.

Best Sites for Betting in Mexico

  1. Betway

    Betway makes it easy to get started and then keeps you there with its huge selection and numerous ways to bet. With some of the best promos you'll find at any sportsbook, Betway is a fantastic platform to wager with.

    Promo: Bet $25, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
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    Rated 5/5
  2. 888sport

    888sport offers tons of betting options for new and experienced bettors alike. Find great odds on sporting events from around the globe wherever you’re located.

    Bonus: Bet $20, Win $200 in Free Bets
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    Rated 5/5
  3. William Hill

    A big name that's been in business since 1934 is relevant as ever with a modern betting app and online sportsbook that features one of the biggest betting menus out there.

    Promo: $500 Risk-Free Bet!
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    Rated 4/5
  4. Paddy Power

    One of the most popular and esteemed gambling sites in the UK & Ireland, this household name offers some of the largest odds selections in the industry. With over 100 lines per game and a premium live-streaming service, Paddy Power is a top sportsbook.

    Bonus: Risk Free €20 bet
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    Rated 4/5

Mexican Sports Betting FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Mexico? Yes
Is online betting legal in Mexico? Yes
Is the sports betting industry regulated in Mexico? Yes, but the online industry is very under-regulated
Are online sportsbooks required to have a license in Mexico? Yes, but many operators do not
Is it safe to use unlicensed sportsbooks? We recommend the use of licensed sportsbooks

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Mexico?

Sports betting is legal in Mexico. In theory, the industry is wholly regulated and subject to a licensing system that includes both online and in-person, retail operators.

In practice, however, a huge range of unregulated sites are easily accessible online. That’s why Mexican sports bettors need to be especially careful to bet with regulated sites that will always honor their bets and pay out.

Most of the applicable laws do not specifically account for online sports betting because they were drafted before the internet was a common sports-betting medium. As such, the laws ought to be interpreted as covering online betting.

But the fact of the matter is that Mexico lacks a coherent online licensing system, and the end result is that the online betting market in Mexico is dominated by foreign-based sites, many of which do not hold licenses.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has the authority to regulate the industry, according to Cesar Morales Galan of Deloitte Mexico, but it has not taken a terribly proactive approach to doing so.

Under the current laws, unlicensed offshore sportsbooks are not legally allowed to offer their services to Mexicans, but it’s clear that Mexican residents are free to play at foreign sportsbooks, whether they are licensed or not. And the lack of a robust regulatory system has resulted in many unlicensed options being available in Mexico.

Efforts were made to revamp the country’s gaming laws in 2017 in order to bring “necessary federal oversight” to the online betting and gaming industry, but those efforts fell through, which means the status quo will prevail for the time being.

As Miguel Angel Ochoa Sanchez (president of the AIEJA, Mexico’s trade association of license holders) told CalvinAyre.com, “absent a proper online gambling licensing regime, international operators [will] continue to dominate the local market.”

What Are the Pros and Cons of the Current Legal Regime?

The status quo is both good and bad for Mexican bettors.

On the plus side, the lackluster regulatory framework has resulted in the market being flooded with choice. (One website estimates that nearly 500 online sportsbooks accept users from Mexico.)

That leads to sportsbooks competing with each other for customers which, in turn, leads to lower juice, better bonuses, and all the other perks that free markets bring to the consumer.

On the down side, many of the sportsbook options available to Mexicans are of dubious quality because no one is regulating entry into the marketplace. Charlatans are free to set up shop next to honest merchants and, from the outside, it can be difficult to tell them apart.

Our advice is to focus on site that are either licensed in Mexico or with highly respected international licensing regimes in countries like Gibraltar, the UK, Isle of Man, Malta, or various Caribbean nations.

Reading up on a site with our unbiased sportsbook reviews can help out on that front.

Do Mexican Bettors Have to Pay Tax on Their Winnings?

Mexico has a 29% income tax rate, regardless of how that income is generated. This suggests that sports betting winnings are taxable as regular income.

What Are the Common Deposit and Withdrawal Methods at Mexican Sportsbooks?

The most common withdrawal and deposit methods in Mexico largely mirror those available in the United States and Europe.

Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are widely accepted by Mexican sportsbooks, and bank transfers are also popular, especially for withdrawals.

Most sites still have the option to deposit and withdraw by good old fashioned check, though this obviously comes with longer wait times.

Depending on the site, e-wallets like Neteller may also be available. These can cut down on delays, but if speed is your primary concern, virtual currencies may be your best option.

The use of Bitcoin is becoming more prominent among Mexican sites due to its quick processing speed, low fees, the lack of a middleman, and the anonymity it provides.

In order to attract Mexican customers, some of the higher quality sportsbooks will keep account balances in Mexican pesos, while others will convert pesos to US dollars.

What Are the Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Mexico?

If you’ve ever set foot in the country, you know its fervent, undying love for European football/soccer. During the 2018 World Cup, even the sportsbooks in Las Vegas had to drastically reduce their odds on the Mexican national team because they were taking so many bets from ex-pats backing El Tri.

Liga MX, the top domestic league, is the most popular sub-option within Mexican football betting market. But there is also no shortage of action on the major European leagues, the MLS, and of course, international play.

Baseball is also hugely popular in certain regions of the country. In fact, it’s generally more popular than soccer in Sonora, Sinaloa, and a few other areas. The country has produced numerous MLB stars, and active players like Victor Arano, Julia Urias, and Roberto Osuna keep the Mexican betting public interested in MLB action.

Basketball isn’t quite as popular as baseball – and only four Mexicans have ever played in the NBA – but it’s a solid tertiary betting market in the country.

American football is also gaining popularity among Mexican bettors. The NFL has made a decided push to attract Mexican fans, playing a game in Mexico City in each of the last three years. These efforts seem to be paying off. Futbol americano has become the fourth-most popular team sport in the country and a ubiquitous option at all Mexican sportsbooks.

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