New Mexico Gambling Laws

New Mexico Gambling laws are straightforward, just check their Gaming Control Board’s answers to gambling-related questions. Among US gambling laws, theirs can be placed in the mid-tier when it comes to permissions.

Casino Gambling and Betting in New Mexico

Generally, gambling in New Mexico is prohibited. However, the New Mexico gambling laws allow for gambling at specific facilities that acquire licenses, issued by the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. Gambling is defined as “an activity where you pay to play a game or on a slot machine, the outcome of which is based on chance and possibly some skill, to receive a prize or something of value.” Casino style gambling in New Mexico is permitted by compacts between the state and Native American tribes and pueblos. Besides the tribes, only licensed racinos and non-profit organizations are allowed to operate slot machines. There are 9 tribal casinos in New Mexico, offering a great variety of casino gambling, including card games on top of slots. In 2015, the state renewed its compact with five Native American tribes for 22 more years. The new compact’s terms are much more favorable; therefore, it’s expected that the remaining 9 tribes will also sign it in the near future. Governor Susana Martinez said that the gambling compacts preserve “the stability and predictability of gaming in New Mexico.” New Mexico gambling laws are enforced by the New Mexico Gaming Control Board, which was established in 1997.

Online Gambling in New Mexico

Online gambling in New Mexico is strictly prohibited. Since New Mexico does not specify online gambling in their gaming act, the federal US gambling laws apply to the state. New Mexico authorities do “not regulate, license, control or in ANY way sanction, endorse or approve any Internet or on-line gambling, betting activity, wagering or any aspect thereof.” The official site of the Gaming Control Board adds that “any statement, reference or opinion to the contrary is wrong.”

Lotteries in New Mexico

The establishment of the New Mexico Lottery was approved by public referendum in 1994. Now there are numerous lotteries in New Mexico, run by a business enterprise separate from state government. Furthermore, New Mexico is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association, which means that Powerball and Mega Millions are also available to play for New Mexicans. The lotteries are overseen by the New Mexico Lottery Authority, conjoined by the Legislative Finance Committee. 100% of the New Mexico Lottery proceeds go to the Lottery Tuition Fund and are used in the Legislative Lottery Scholarship program. Tickets can be purchased at most grocery stores and gas stations. Players can scan their tickets with the New Mexico Lottery App for further prizes. A new lottery bill was voted down in 2015. It would have increased the prizes of the New Mexico Lottery in order to make more revenue for the scholarship program. However, anti-gambling advocates said that the bill’s language was tricky, pointing towards the legalization of video gaming.

Daily Fantasy Sports in New Mexico

Sports betting in New Mexico is specifically prohibited, with the exception of pari-mutuel wagering at licensed racetracks. Daily fantasy sports in New Mexico are unregulated. In October 2015, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed that they’re monitoring the issue of daily fantasy sports in New Mexico. “My stance, and my message to people in New Mexico is that all gaming is prohibited unless specifically (spelled out as being allowed) by the New Mexico Gaming Control Act,” said Donovan Lieurance, the head of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. The state universities forbid their students from playing at sites like DraftKings and FanDuel. In 2016, the House Majority Leader, Nate Gentry, has introduced HB 314, that would regulate online daily fantasy sports in New Mexico.