“Mexico’s challenge will be to offer a legal framework that is attractive in its response to illegal gambling”

Miguel Ángel Ochoa Sánchez, President of the Mexican Association of Permit Holders, Operators and Suppliers of the Entertainment and Gaming Industry (AIEJA), spoke with Yogonet about the performance of the local gaming industry in 2025 and the challenges the sector faces looking ahead to next year.

In the exclusive interview, Ochoa noted that regulatory issues will be decisive in 2026, expressing his expectation that the enactment of a new law will provide a framework aligned with Mexico’s reality and with “the demands of the highest international standards”.

He also highlighted the industry events held in Mexico throughout 2025, underscoring the second edition of GAT Expo CDMX 2025, and welcomed SiGMA’s announcement of its first event in the country in 2026.

What is your assessment of 2025 for AIEJA?

The year 2025 will be remembered by our industry as a bittersweet one. What began with hopeful prospects—when President Sheinbaum promoted working groups to draft the long-awaited new Federal Gaming and Raffles Law—ended with a series of blows to economic activity in general, and to our industry in particular.

Indeed, throughout the final quarter of the year, the amparo law was drastically amended, a substantial increase in the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) was announced, and the period concluded with the closure of several land-based casinos and some digital platforms. These closures were prompted by an investigation opened against an operating company allegedly responsible for money laundering.

However, despite these troubling political and legal developments, the sector’s own dynamics remained highly active, fostering a sense of optimism about a future that still appears promising. Alongside the second edition of GAT Expo CDMX 2025, which had been scheduled since the previous year, new international events emerged that are clearly here to stay.

As an additional sign of interest, SiGMA—one of the world’s leading gaming industry event organisers—announced its first edition in Mexico for 2026. This demonstrates that, despite everything, Mexico continues to attract strong interest beyond its borders.

Which piece of news or industry event do you consider the most important of the year, and why?

If we focus on Mexico, I would highlight as the most significant development the decision of the Federal Executive—expressed directly by President Sheinbaum—to urge her administration to draft a bill for a new Federal Gaming and Raffles Law to replace the current one, which has been obsolete for years. Moreover, this initiative fostered an unprecedented level of cohesion among all stakeholders in our sector and placed gaming firmly on the national agenda at a key moment.

In terms of events, GAT Expo CDMX was the central pillar of 2025 for us. For the first time since 2012, Mexico City hosted an exhibition bringing together slot machine manufacturers, as well as digital and land-based operators, while also benefiting from the experience of our Colombian partners, who know how to perfectly combine academic content with networking and exhibition spaces.

I would also like to acknowledge events we did not initially expect, such as the outstanding Next.io workshop or the momentum given to the affiliate market by Affpapa’s iGaming Club Conference. These initiatives enriched the dynamics of the national market, attracted dozens of new international companies and fostered meaningful engagement with domestic entrepreneurs.

What are the association’s expectations for 2026?

Although it may sound somewhat repetitive after having said it on several occasions before, 2026 will be a crucial year. Either we succeed—as we hope—in enacting a new law that offers a legal framework tailored to our reality and aligned with the highest international standards, propelling us towards new horizons, or we will continue to be a giant with untapped potential that, unfortunately, never fully awakens.

Everything will be decided in the first half of the year: either a forward-looking vision with exponential growth for our industry, or stagnation, leaving room for an expansion of illegal gambling and a loss of interest from both domestic and international investors.

Mexico is heading towards higher taxes on gambling, as well as a new regulatory framework for the online sector. What do you expect from both discussions?

Indeed, these are the two fundamental items on our agenda with the country’s authorities. The fiscal discussion is now closed. Despite our attempts to put forward alternatives to those responsible for this issue, the authorities turned a deaf ear to our proposals and ultimately chose a path that negatively affects us. As an industry, we deeply regret these drastic increases, which will have a profound impact on the profitability and operations of many companies, while also encouraging migration towards the black market.

As for the regulation of the online sector, we are awaiting it with great anticipation. It is clearly one of the pillars of this new legislative initiative, especially at a time marked by technological innovation and emerging challenges that demand urgent definition and implementation. The positive aspect of being one of the more delayed regulated markets in Latin America is that Mexico now has a valuable opportunity to learn from the successes and mistakes of neighbouring countries and other mature jurisdictions, particularly in Europe.

Mexico’s challenge will be to offer an appropriate legal framework that is sufficiently attractive due to its firmness and effective response to the scourge of illegal gambling, while also maintaining a degree of flexibility to avoid the risks of excessive regulation. Recent history will tell.