The payment provider processed more than five times the betting-sector transaction volume recorded during the 2022 tournament
Payment infrastructure became a critical operational factor for Mexican betting platforms as the World Cup produced short periods of intense customer and transaction activity.
STP recorded a 431.75% increase in the volume of digital betting transactions processed through its systems during the 2026 World Cup compared with the 2022 tournament.
The increase means the transaction volume handled by STP was approximately 5.3 times the 2022 level.
The figures come from the Mexican financial technology company’s internal data. They relate to transactions processed for STP clients and should not be interpreted as a measurement of Mexico’s entire online betting market or the total value wagered nationally.
STP did not disclose the number of transactions, their combined monetary value or the number of betting operators included in the comparison.
Mobile devices support online betting growth
The World Cup increase came as mobile devices continued to strengthen their position as the main access point for online gambling products in Mexico.
Mordor Intelligence estimates that smartphones and tablets accounted for 63.9% of activity within the country’s online gambling market during 2025.
Consumers aged between 25 and 40 represented 49.4% of the market. The under-25 segment is forecast to record annual growth of 16.7% through 2031, according to the research company.
Central Mexico accounted for 41.3% of market activity, while the north-central region was identified as the country’s fastest-growing geographical segment.
Jaime Márquez Poo, Executive Director of New Business at STP
“The results from this championship confirm a trend we had already observed. More users in Mexico are trusting digital platforms to place their bets, supported by robust and regulated payment infrastructure.
“The figures recorded during the tournament provide a clear indication of the maturity reached by the country’s digital entertainment industry.”
Ipsos measured betting intentions before the tournament
An Ipsos México study published before the World Cup found that 40% of 500 respondents were very or somewhat familiar with betting.
Among the respondents familiar with the activity, 34% said they planned to bet during World Cup matches. This represented an intention recorded before the tournament, rather than confirmation that those respondents later placed wagers.
The survey also found that 44% of those intending to bet expected to spend between MX$500 and MX$2,000. Another 22% planned to spend between MX$2,000 and MX$5,000.
STP said the World Cup joined events such as the Super Bowl in generating concentrated transaction peaks for sports betting platforms.
The company also reported an increase in the number of gaming and betting brands using its payment infrastructure, although it did not publish an exact figure.
Market forecast indicates further expansion
Mordor Intelligence values Mexico’s online gambling market at US$790 million in 2025 and US$970 million in 2026. Its current forecast places the market at US$1.09 billion by 2031.
Sports betting represented 56.4% of market revenue in 2025, making it the largest product segment in the research company’s estimate.
However, the published forecast contains a mathematical inconsistency. Mordor Intelligence states an 8.6% compound annual growth rate between 2026 and 2031, but growth from US$970 million to US$1.09 billion over that period would be substantially lower.
The longer-term challenge for operators will be retaining customers and transaction activity after the World Cup peak.
Continued digital growth will also increase the importance of payment capacity, fraud prevention, customer protection and regulatory compliance across Mexico’s online gambling sector.
