Latin America enters 2026 with tougher rules: instead of fine-tuning, regulators are moving to continuous supervision. The key markets of the year are Brazil (the region’s flagship licensed market) and Mexico (strict financial oversight even without updating the 1947 law).
The main shift in 2026
🔵 Regulation moves into a permanent supervision mode
🔵 Pressure is applied through money: payments, reporting, transparency
🔵 Separate focus on advertising and affiliate channels
🔵 For operators, this means less flexibility and more checks
🇧🇷 Brazil
SPA (Ministry of Finance) has outlined its 2026−2027 agenda: strengthening enforcement without changing the core model.
🔴 Fine-tuning licensing and operator requirements
🔴 Stronger supervision: more data and tighter enforcement
🔴 Clarified sanctions: clearer rules on what is punished and how
🔴 Regulation of digital betting terminals and lotteries
🔴 Control of advertising via affiliates and apps
🔴 Player "risk profile" tools via the regulator’s system
🇲🇽 Mexico
The key factor for 2026 is not reform of the 1947 law, but strict financial supervision: gambling is treated as a high-risk category for financial control.
🔵 Monitoring of payments and transactions
🔵 Strict reporting via the tax authority portal (SAT)
🔵 Higher requirements for identification and customer checks
🔵 Oversight by multiple authorities (SHCP, UIF, SEGOB)
🔵 Reform is under discussion, but enforcement is already active and does not depend on its pace
Other markets — briefly
🇵🇪 Peru: first full year of the new online market framework + stronger financial control
🇨🇴 Colombia: updated requirements for online operators, focus on the legal market
🇨🇱 Chile: online betting bill in committees — moving toward licensing
🇦🇷 Argentina (CABA): responsible gaming and advertising in focus; new restrictions under discussion
Conclusion
In 2026, LatAm becomes less free but more predictable. Brazil is expanding oversight to infrastructure and partner channels, while Mexico keeps the market under tight financial control regardless of legislative reform. The key filters of the year are money and advertising — the main levers regulators will use to squeeze the grey segment.
🔵 Regulation moves into a permanent supervision mode
🔵 Pressure is applied through money: payments, reporting, transparency
🔵 Separate focus on advertising and affiliate channels
🔵 For operators, this means less flexibility and more checks
🇧🇷 Brazil
SPA (Ministry of Finance) has outlined its 2026−2027 agenda: strengthening enforcement without changing the core model.
🔴 Fine-tuning licensing and operator requirements
🔴 Stronger supervision: more data and tighter enforcement
🔴 Clarified sanctions: clearer rules on what is punished and how
🔴 Regulation of digital betting terminals and lotteries
🔴 Control of advertising via affiliates and apps
🔴 Player "risk profile" tools via the regulator’s system
🇲🇽 Mexico
The key factor for 2026 is not reform of the 1947 law, but strict financial supervision: gambling is treated as a high-risk category for financial control.
🔵 Monitoring of payments and transactions
🔵 Strict reporting via the tax authority portal (SAT)
🔵 Higher requirements for identification and customer checks
🔵 Oversight by multiple authorities (SHCP, UIF, SEGOB)
🔵 Reform is under discussion, but enforcement is already active and does not depend on its pace
Other markets — briefly
🇵🇪 Peru: first full year of the new online market framework + stronger financial control
🇨🇴 Colombia: updated requirements for online operators, focus on the legal market
🇨🇱 Chile: online betting bill in committees — moving toward licensing
🇦🇷 Argentina (CABA): responsible gaming and advertising in focus; new restrictions under discussion
Conclusion
In 2026, LatAm becomes less free but more predictable. Brazil is expanding oversight to infrastructure and partner channels, while Mexico keeps the market under tight financial control regardless of legislative reform. The key filters of the year are money and advertising — the main levers regulators will use to squeeze the grey segment.