New Mexico Sports Betting
New Mexico sports betting launched in Fall 2018 when tribal gaming operators began opening retail sportsbooks at their casinos. New Mexico did not pass legislation to formally legalize sports betting, but tribal gaming operators contend there is no need to wait because their existing compacts with the state cover sports betting.
New Mexico authorities have declined to take a firm position on the issue of sports betting and appear content to allow tribal casinos to operate sportsbooks. Online sports betting in New Mexico remains prohibited, however, as there is no argument that additional legislation would be needed to authorize online sportsbooks.
New Mexico online betting options are currently limited to parimutuel horse racing betting sites and daily fantasy sports apps.
Legal New Mexico Betting Sites
21+ and present in New Mexico. T&Cs Apply. Gambling problem? Call 888-696-2440 or visit rganm.org.
New Mexico Sportsbook Locations
New Mexico is now five retail sportsbooks in New Mexico, each located within a Native American casino. The first sportsbook opened in October 2018 and four others have followed suit since. The current list of New Mexico sportsbooks now includes:
- Sportsbook at the Santa Ana Star
- Sportsbook at the Hilton Buffalo Thunder
- BetMGM Sportsbook at Isleta Resort & Casino
- Sportsbook at the Inn of the Mountain Gods
- The Book at Route 66 Casino
Legal New Mexico sports betting launched with little warning when the Pueblo of Santa Ana announced that they had reached a deal with sports betting services provider USBookmaking to begin taking wagers at the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel.
This news came as a surprise because there was no pending legislation at the time to authorize sports betting in New Mexico.
However, the tribe was able to move on its own due to a 2015 gaming compact with the state that authorizes Class III gaming, which the tribes say includes retail sports betting. Under this interpretation of the law, tribal casinos need no authorization from the state to offer sports betting on casino property.
Santa Ana Star Casino announced that it would begin taking sports wagers on Tuesday, October 16th, 2018. This was the first casino to make such an announcement, but it would only be a matter of time before others do the same.
Buffalo Thunder Casino just north of Santa Fe followed suit in March 2019 to become the second New Mexico sportsbook, just in time for March Madness. Additional New Mexico sportsbooks have opened since then, despite lawmakers never passing legislation to formally authorize sports betting.
Will Tribal Sportsbooks Prompt Lawmakers to Legalize Online Sports Betting in New Mexico?
There are no indications that New Mexico plans to pass legislation formally legalizing retail sportsbooks or online sports betting apps.
Currently, the state appears content with allowing the current New Mexico sports betting status quo to continue. Tribal casinos may operate their sportsbooks on legally shaky ground, but the Office of the Attorney General has made no indications it plans to pursue legal action.
In 2018, shortly before the sportsbook at the Santa Ana Star opened, the Office of the Attorney General commented that it would “closely monitor New Mexico’s tribal compacts and work with the legislature for proper statutory and regulatory oversight to require responsible gaming and enhanced integrity to create an even playing field for all.”
New Mexico lawmakers never got around to passing regulatory legislation, but the Office of the Attorney General has also never indicated an interest in taking action against tribal sportsbooks.
New Mexico Daily Fantasy Sports
New Mexico lawmakers have avoided the question of fantasy sports contests for several years now, so daily fantasy sports sites in New Mexico remain on murky legal ground. FanDuel, DraftKings and other DFS sites accept customers from New Mexico based on their interpretation that New Mexico’s definition of gambling does not include fantasy sports.
Legislation was proposed to legalize DFS in New Mexico at one point, but nothing came of that effort. The attorney general has also declined to issue an opinion one way or another. As it stands now, fans have no problems signing up and playing at the best fantasy sites, which serve as a close alternative to full-fledged online sports betting in New Mexico.
New Mexico Horse Racing Betting
New Mexico is home to a vibrant horse racing industry with numerous race tracks in operation today that host some of the nation’s higher-echelon races.
For some perspective on the size of the industry, horse races in New Mexico support thousands of jobs across the state and is believed to contribute more than half a billion dollars to the state’s economy between the many trainers, breeders, racetrack employees, and pari-mutuel wagering.
Online horse racing betting in New Mexico is also widely available via reputable and well-established operators. Fans can read more about horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in New Mexico below:
New Mexico Online Gambling
All gambling in New Mexico is considered illegal unless specifically permitted by law. This approach leaves no question about whether or not an activity in NM is legal. If it doesn’t take place at a licensed casino or racetrack, it is unlawful. This extends to social poker games and the internet.
The Gaming Control Board makes it clear as well that social poker is illegal with the following text on its website:
Poker Games/Poker Tournaments/poker runs if money is paid for the opportunity to play and if money or prizes are being awarded as a result of the outcome of the game.
That same page also explains that online gambling in New Mexico is illegal, under no uncertain terms. Under the “internet gambling” heading, the Board explains that online wagering is illegal under federal law and that New Mexico does not license, regulate or authorize any form of online gambling.
Chapter 30 Article 19 of the New Mexico Statutes considers a “bet” to be a “bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, even though accompanied by some skill, one stands to win or lose anything of value specified in the agreement.”
The same law continues to explain that someone is considered to be participating in gambling if that person places a bet or enters a facility with the intent of placing a bet. Anyone caught participating in gambling as a player will be charged with a petty misdemeanor. The penalty for conviction includes a jail sentence not to exceed six months and a fine not to exceed $500.
It is a much more serious crime to operate a “commercial” gambling operation, which means taking a profit for operating a gambling place or assisting in the operation of such a place. A charge of commercial gambling could get you a 4th degree felony which is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Overall, New Mexico gambling laws are straightforward. There’s little room for interpretation and most forms of gambling are clearly outlawed outside of authorized facilities.
New Mexico Online Lottery
The New Mexico Lottery was established by Senate Bill 853 in 1995. Since then, the lottery has helped send 90,000 students from NM attend public colleges and technical colleges with funds earned from ticket sales. To date, the lottery has donated more than $616 million to education.
The New Mexico Lottery does not sell tickets online, but authorized lottery courier service Jackpocket does. Customers can download the Jackpocket app and use it to buy New Mexico Lottery tickets online from anywhere in state lines.
Jackpocket is the only legitimate New Mexico lottery ticket courier service. Jackpocket is headquartered in the United States and only operates in jurisdictions where local regulators have approved the concept. Players should avoid other online lottery ticket sites because they operate from overseas and employ questionable security standards.