Bet365 users in Mexico have reported on social media that they received an email from the sportsbook warning that an inactivity fee will be charged after almost a year without account activity. That period matches how long the platform has been blocked in the country, so users say they have no way to avoid the charge. The story was first reported by La Crónica de Hoy on 21 October 2026, based on posts on X. The email’s authenticity has not been independently verified, and its text is known only through Crónica’s quotation.

What the email says

According to that quotation, the fee applies after 365 days of inactivity. It is £2 (or the equivalent in another currency) or 5% of the balance, whichever is higher.

The first charge would be made within 35 days of the notice and then every 28 days until the balance reaches zero. To avoid it, users would need to log in and either deposit or withdraw their entire balance. Users point out they can do neither, because the site is still offline in Mexico.

A post by user @estratoz dated 20 October, tagging Profeco (the federal consumer protection agency) and @bet365mx, complains that the company wants to charge for not withdrawing money that cannot be accessed. The emails appear to have arrived around that date, although the exact send date is not confirmed.

What is not confirmed

  • There is no evidence that any fee has actually been taken; what has been reported is a warning.
  • Neither bet365 nor Ganador Azteca has said whether the email was deliberate or automatic, or whether fees will be waived.
  • Crónica says some users chose to complain to Profeco, but there is no confirmation of formal complaints and no statement from the agency.

Background: almost a year offline

On 11 November 2025, the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) of Mexico’s Finance Ministry blocked 13 casinos as part of a suspected money-laundering investigation. Bet365 and Betano went offline on the morning of 13 November. Both brands operate in Mexico under permits held by Ganador Azteca and Operadora Ganador TV Azteca, Grupo Salinas companies. On 14 November, bet365 said customer funds were protected.

According to Crónica, bet365.mx was still down as of 18 October 2026 and is one of 10 domains kept blocked by the Interior Ministry’s (SEGOB) gaming directorate.

On 23 October, news spread of a court ruling in the companies’ favour, but accounts differ on which authority’s action was challenged and whether the ruling is final; the news came from TV Azteca, part of the same group as the permit holder, and neither the ruling nor a verifiable case number has been located.

Reports indicate the ruling does not guarantee account access or the return of balances, which remain frozen with no return date. Accounts at BBVA and Banco Azteca frozen under UIF procedures would require a separate court process. In September, Ganador Azteca and four other TV Azteca subsidiaries filed for voluntary concurso mercantil, a court-supervised restructuring.

What it means for operators and affiliates

Warning players of fees on balances they cannot reach creates reputational and consumer-complaint risk, just as the brand may be trying to return. For any operator, the case is a reminder to check that automated inactivity processes are paused in markets where access is blocked for reasons outside the player’s control.

For affiliates, nothing changes yet: there is no working product and no return date for bet365 or Betano in Mexico. Being transparent with audiences and avoiding promises of a relaunch is the prudent course.

It also helps to keep the fronts separate: the domain block (SEGOB) and the frozen funds (UIF) run on different tracks, so a court win on one does not mean players get paid out. The permit holder’s restructuring filing adds another layer of uncertainty.

This article is based on public information available at the time of publication. We try to verify the facts, but figures and details may contain errors or change, and iGaming.mx accepts no responsibility for their accuracy. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Spotted a mistake? Email us.