Neosurf and Mercado Pago partner in Mexico
Payment provider Neosurf has partnered with financial technology company Mercado Pago to expand the available payment options for online gambling customers in Mexico.
Users will be able to transfer money from their Mercado Pago account to participating sports betting operators through the Neosurf wallet. This integration is initially being launched in the Mexican gambling market.
Mercado Pago currently has more than 56 million active users each month across Latin America, and this partnership provides the company’s wallet holders with an additional way to fund their online betting accounts.
The agreement combines Mercado Pago’s digital wallet network with Neosurf’s payment infrastructure for the online sports betting and igaming sectors.
Neosurf’s Chief Executive of Americas, Sue Page, said, “Mexico represents a major growth market for both digital payments and online betting, and we’re incredibly excited to partner with Mercado Pago. This partnership creates a new, easy way for Mercado Pago wallet holders to use their balance to fund their online sports betting accounts through the Neosurf wallet. It reinforces our commitment to delivering secure, compliant and player focused payment solutions throughout Latin America.”
This partnership comes amid the continued expansion of legal online gambling in Mexico, where gambling operator SkillOnNet recently launched games from developer Konami on its PlayUZU platform.
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The Backstory
Mexico becomes the test case for payment growth
Neosurf’s agreement with Mercado Pago is the latest step in a broader race to capture Mexico’s expanding regulated online gambling market, where operators, game suppliers and payment companies are positioning themselves for sustained digital growth. The deal brings together a specialist gambling payments provider and one of Latin America’s largest digital wallet networks, giving sports betting customers another route to move funds into operator accounts through the Neosurf wallet.
The partnership follows Neosurf’s earlier entry into Mexico, when the company said it had gone live in the country as part of its first major push into Latin America. At the time, the company framed Mexico as a regulated market where payment infrastructure remained uneven, particularly around customer support, compliance and transaction efficiency. Its Mexico launch with early regional partners such as Fun88 was positioned around cash-to-digital transactions and compliance tools for licensed operators.
The Mercado Pago tie-up significantly widens that opportunity. Mercado Pago has more than 56 million monthly active users across Latin America, creating a large base of wallet holders who may already be familiar with app-based financial services. For Neosurf, the integration adds scale and brand recognition in a market where trust, speed and local payment habits can determine whether players choose licensed betting platforms over informal or offshore options.
A market forecast drawing global suppliers
Mexico’s appeal to payments companies is tied to the size and pace of its regulated gambling sector. A recent Astute Analytica report projected the market could reach US$40.6 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual rate of 15.7%. That forecast for Mexico’s gambling market cited regulatory changes to the Federal Gaming and Raffles Law in 2021 and 2023, rising smartphone ownership and low-cost mobile data as key drivers.
Those conditions have made Mexico a priority market for international suppliers. Smartphone ownership of 82% and a young customer base have helped shift gambling activity toward mobile channels. The report said the 18-34 age group accounts for 71% of users, making digital wallet access and frictionless account funding central to operator strategy. Mobile gambling revenue alone was expected to reach US$1.4 billion in 2024.
Sports betting remains a major driver, especially soccer. The report said US$2.1 billion was wagered on Liga MX’s Apertura tournament in 2023, with betting volumes spiking during high-profile matches. That sports-led demand creates recurring pressure on operators to process deposits quickly and reliably, particularly around major events. Payment failures or limited funding options can become commercial disadvantages when bettors expect instant access.
For payment providers, the market opportunity extends beyond convenience. Mexico still has a strong cash culture, and operators have sought payment methods that can bridge cash preferences with digital gambling accounts. Neosurf has emphasized that point in its earlier Mexico rollout, saying its model can help operators serve players who favor cash while supporting anti-money laundering and know-your-customer processes.
Content expansion raises the stakes for payments
The payment race is unfolding alongside an aggressive expansion in online casino content. As operators add games to attract and retain players, the importance of smooth deposits and withdrawals increases. A broader library can bring more traffic, but it also demands payments infrastructure capable of handling higher transaction volumes, compliance checks and customer expectations.
SkillOnNet’s PlayUZU platform recently expanded in Mexico through the launch of Konami Online games, including China Shores, All Aboard, African Diamond and Bomberman Blast. The rollout marked the first deployment under an expanded partnership between the companies, with additional regulated-market launches planned. Konami has been building its online presence in regulated jurisdictions, and Mexico has become one of the key early markets for that strategy.
That development shows how Mexico is no longer viewed only as a sportsbook opportunity. International casino suppliers are moving in with branded slot titles, established land-based game names and localized distribution agreements. For operators, adding recognizable content can help differentiate platforms in an increasingly competitive market. For payments companies, more casino engagement can mean more frequent, lower-value transactions, making reliability and cost efficiency more important.
SkillOnNet has also been active with other suppliers, including Ready Play Gaming in Mexico and Canada, underscoring the pace at which operators are refreshing their online casino catalogs. Each content integration increases the importance of a payments stack that can support player acquisition and retention while meeting regulatory obligations.
Winpot’s supplier deals reflect intensifying competition
Winpot, a Mexican operator with roots in the land-based casino sector, has become another example of how traditional gambling brands are expanding their digital presence. The company recently added content from 7777 Gaming through a partnership covering the Mexican market. The agreement gave Winpot players access to titles such as Cash 100, Sugar Star, Club Mr. Luck 10 and Mayan Gold, with more games expected later.
That deal followed another content agreement in which 3 Oaks Gaming partnered with Winpot to add titles including Sun of Egypt, Coin Volcano and Chili Coins Hold and Win. The supplier described the agreement as part of a broader Latin America growth strategy, while Winpot has been working to strengthen its online profile through expanded content and marketing, including national TV campaigns.
Winpot’s recent activity illustrates the competitive dynamic facing Mexican operators. Land-based recognition can help establish trust, but digital customers are increasingly comparing game choice, promotions, user experience and payment options across platforms. A weak payments offering can undercut investment in content, particularly if players encounter friction when funding accounts or withdrawing winnings.
For suppliers such as 7777 Gaming and 3 Oaks Gaming, Mexico offers access to a regulated market with strong growth projections and rising online casino adoption. For operators, these partnerships broaden the product mix. For payment providers, the result is a more active ecosystem in which transaction infrastructure becomes a strategic layer rather than a back-office function.
Compliance and illegal operators shape the opportunity
Mexico’s growth potential is tempered by regulatory and social risks. The Astute Analytica report said problem gambling affects 2.3% of Mexican adults, about double the global average. It also estimated illegal operations cost licensed operators as much as US$450 million annually and deprive the government of US$310 million in tax revenue. Those figures help explain why compliant payment infrastructure is becoming more important to the sector’s development.
Payments can influence channelization, the process of moving consumers toward licensed operators. When legal platforms offer familiar, fast and secure funding options, they are better positioned to compete with unlicensed sites. Partnerships with established financial technology firms can also support consumer confidence, particularly in markets where many players are new to regulated online gambling.
Neosurf’s positioning in Mexico has leaned heavily on compliance, including its data-sharing tools for operators and its focus on AML and KYC processes. The Mercado Pago partnership adds consumer reach to that compliance-led approach. If widely adopted by operators, the integration could help reduce friction at a critical point in the player journey while giving licensed platforms another tool to compete against informal alternatives.
The broader context is clear: Mexico’s regulated gambling sector is expanding across sports betting, casino games, mobile platforms and digital payments at the same time. That convergence is drawing international suppliers and increasing pressure on operators to improve every part of the customer experience. Neosurf’s Mercado Pago agreement fits into that pattern, showing how payments are becoming central to the next phase of growth in one of Latin America’s most closely watched gambling markets.
