New Mexico

New Mexico Online Gambling & Sportsbooks in 2022

Online sports betting and online gambling remain something of an anomaly within the state, in the case of sports betting it isn’t defined as being either legal, or illegal.

As of 2022, New Mexico seems content with keeping both gambling and sports betting within its tribal casinos and racetracks, as such it’s unlikely online sports betting or online gambling will become available in the near future.

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Best New Casinos in New Mexico

Casinos on land are nothing new in New Mexico, with 24 tribal casinos. However, getting to one may not be practical or desirable for any number of reasons. This can lead players in the state to head to some of the best new casinos in New Mexico online. These will usually be offshore sites that aren;t under the purview of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board.

Cryptocurrency casinos, including those presented below, accept USD and BTC and sometimes altcoins like LTC or BCH. Depositing from a Bitcoin wallet or altcoin wallet is fast, safe, and secure. But suppose you prefer to stick to traditional American dollars…

In that case, it’s as easy as using a credit card like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex. You’ll be playing real money casino games and slots within minutes. Each cashout at online casinos has reasonable withdrawal processing times and daily/monthly limits.

Game selection is important, and so our online casinos below offer hundreds from leading providers such as Rival Games, Realtime Gaming, ViG, Betsoft, Bodog, etc. You might prefer online roulette, blackjack, baccarat, specialty games, or others that use a random number generator (RNG).

Others prefer live dealer games with real-life dealers and tables streamed to your location. Here, you can find both!

We understand that it’s sometimes nice to mix things up a bit in online gambling, and the casinos also do. That’s why regular players can participate in daily/weekly/monthly promotions, VIP loyalty programs, Comp Points, tournaments, etc.

Read all about what each online gambling casino offers players from New Mexico in the respective review.

Best Bonuses in New Mexico Casinos

An online bonus is to a casino what ice cream is to apple pie. Some bonuses are available on signup, while others are awarded on the first or first few USD/BTC deposits. The best bonuses in New Mexico casinos, like the ones below, offer higher bonus money potential.

Furthermore, some also offer free spins on a select game as another way for players to potentially win some extra cash when online gambling in New Mexico.

If you’ve ever looked at the fine print, you know that they are not the same. Some online casino bonuses make it hard to keep your winnings because of the unfair bonus T&Cs or playthrough wagering requirements. We’ve vetted each bonus for New Mexico online casinos below, and consider each offer fair – but don’t take our word for it!

New Mexico Gambling Overview

New Mexico is amongst the youngest states, only joining in 1912. It’s a quirky state where there are more cows than people and more Ph.Ds per capita than any other US state.

Most gambling in New Mexico is prohibited, except for tribal casinos, pari-mutuel horse racing, a state lottery, and bingos & raffles (charity gaming). A statute in 1997 established the New Mexico Gaming Control Board as the regulatory body for racetracks and charity gaming.

Although commercial sports betting has not been legalized in New Mexico, some tribal casinos do offer sportsbooks. These casinos argue that sports betting falls under Class III Gaming.

Gambling over the internet is unlawful, including New Mexico online casinos, online poker, and online sports betting. There are no laws for fantasy sports contests, but the hobby is tolerated by the state as it is seen as a game of skill, not online gambling.

State Lottery

The New Mexico Lottery falls under the New Mexico Lottery Act. The state lottery is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). This means that players (18+) from New Mexico can participate in interstate lottery draws, including Mega Millions, Powerball, et cetera. Tickets can be purchased from any authorized retailer.

The state offers several local draw games, including Roadrunner Cash, Pick 3, Lucky Numbers Bingo, and Quicksters. Scratch tickets can also be purchased in the state.

Charity Gaming

Regularly scheduled games of chance conducted by qualifying organizations require a license as per The Bingo and Raffle Act. Here, qualifying non-profits across New Mexico may offer bingo, raffle tickets, or pull tabs.

Qualifying non-profits include religious, patriotic, educational, or public-spirited entities. Individual prizes on raffles may not exceed $75,000. Bingos or raffles cannot be held more than once every three consecutive months or four times per year. Some non-profit organizations may also offer slot machines.

Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing

New Mexico statutes §60-1A-1 thru §60-1A-30 NMSA 1978 regulates live and simulcast horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at licensed venues. These venues (licensed tracks) may also offer slot machines that fall under the Gaming Control Act. Horse racing and pari-mutuel activities are regulated by the New Mexico Racing Commission.

Sports Betting

New Mexico land-based or online sports betting is not explicitly legal. A legislative loophole has made Class III tribal casino sportsbooks tolerated. The Pueblo of Santa Ana tribe has exploited this to offer a sportsbook of its own. Some other casinos have followed suit, but not all casinos provide a retail sportsbook. Gambling on in-state college teams is not permitted.

Land-Based Casinos & Racinos

Pueblos and tribes entered into State Compacts with New Mexico may offer a sportsbook, casino-style gaming, including hundreds of slot machines, video poker, table games, bingo, and more.

Tribal Casinos	Address	Website
Apache Nugget Travel Center and Casino	Hwy 550/537 – Cuba, NM 87013	apachenugget.com
Black Mesa Casino	25 Hagan Road – San Felipe Pueblo, NM 87001	blackmesacasino.com
Black Mesa Casino (Slot Stop (located inside the Black Mesa Travel Center)	25 Hagan Road – San Felipe Pueblo, NM 87001	n/a
Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino	30 Buffalo Thunder Trail – Santa Fe, NM 87506	hiltonbuffalothunder.com
Casino Apache Travel Center	25845 US Highway 70 -Mescalero, New Mexico 88340	casinoapachetravelcenter.com
Cities of Gold Casino	10-B Cities of Gold Road – Santa Fe, NM 87506	citiesofgold.com
Dancing Eagle Casino	I-40, Exit 108 – Casa Blanca, NM	dancingeaglecasino.com
Fire Rock Casino	249 East Historic Highway 66 – Church Rock, New Mexico 87311	firerockcasino.com
Flowing Water Casino	2710 US Highway 64 – Waterflow, New Mexico 87421	flowingwatercasino.com
Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino Apache	269 Carrizo Canyon Rd. – Mescalero, NM 88340	innofthemountaingods.com
Isleta Resort and Casino	11000 Broadway SE – Albuquerque, NM 87105	isleta.com
Jake’s Place	68 Cities of Gold Road, Suite C – Santa Fe, NM 87506	jakesliquorstore.com
Northern Edge Casino	2752 Navajo Route 36 – Fruitland, New Mexico 87416	northernedgecasino.com
Ohkay Casino	68 NM-291, Ohkay Owingeh, NM 87566	ohkay.com
Palace West Casino	2 NM-45, Albuquerque, NM 87105	isleta.com
Route 66 Casino	14500 Central Ave SW, Rio Puerco, Albuquerque, NM 87121	rt66casino.com
Casino Express	14500 Central Avenue – Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121	n/a
Sandia Casino	30 Rainbow Rd, Albuquerque, NM 87113	sandiacasino.com
Santa Ana Star Casino	54 Jemez Canyon Dam Road – Bernalillo, NM 87004	santaanastar.com
Santa Claran Casino Hotel	419 North Riverside Dr. – Espanola, NM 87532	santaclaran.com
Sky City Casino	7 Sky City Rd drive, Acoma Pueblo, NM 87034	skycity.com
Taos Mountain Casino	700 Veterans Hwy, Taos, NM 87571	taosmountaincasino.com
Tesuque Casino	7 Tesuque Rd – Santa Fe, NM 87506	tesuquecasino.com
Wild Horse Casino and Hotel	US Hwy. 64 Jicarilla Blvd – Dulce, NM 87528	wildhorsecasinoandhotel.com

 

Racetrack casinos are available at 5 locations, offering slot machines at their sites. However, table games are not permitted.

Racinos	Address	Website
The Downs Racetrack & Casino	145 Louisiana Blvd. NE – Albuquerque, NM 87108	abqdowns.com
Zia Park Racetrack & Casino	3901 W Millen Dr, Hobbs NM 88240	ziaparkcasino.com
Ruidoso Downs Race Track	26225 U.S. 70. – Ruidoso Downs, NM, 88346,	ruidownsracing.com
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino	1200 Futurity Dr. – Sunland Park, NM 88063	sunland-park.com
Sunray Park & Casino	39 Road 5568 – Farmington, NM 87401	sunraygaming.com

New Mexico Casinos Map

 

 

New Mexico Gambling History

Under a 1978 Act, the racing commission was created to regulate pari-mutuel wagering. The Horse Racing Act (HRA) was enacted in 1938.

In 1990, New Mexico Gov Bruce King entered into negotiations with the Pueblo of Sandia and Mescalero Apache Tribe to enter into State Compacts. This resulted from the enactment of the IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) of 1988, categorizing gaming into three classes: I, II, or III.

Although an appointed task force presented the governor with two Class III gaming Compacts, Gov King refused to sign them. In 1994 he was replaced by Gary Johnson, who was considered a more pro-tribal-state Compact.

In 1995, the state signed 13 nearly identical compacts with San Juan, Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, Isleta, Sandia, Pojoaque, Santa Ana, San Felipe, Taos and Tesuque, Santa Clara, and the Jicarilla & Mescalero Apache Tribes. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court of New Mexico rules that Gov Gary Johnson had no authority to enter the state into Compacts.

By 1999 the Compact Negotiation Act of New Mexico formalized the process for negotiating state-tribal Compacts. By 2001 gaming compacts were signed with all but the Pojoaque (issues resolved in 2005) and Mescalero (signed in 2004).

In 1996, the New Mexico Lottery was established after Senate Bill 853 was signed into law by Gov Gary Johnson in April of the previous year.

In August 2018, New Mexico saw its first sportsbook offered at a tribal casino. This is accepted by the New Mexico Gaming Control Board, but has not expanded into online gambling. New Mexico online gambling isn’t out of the question entirely – while online casinos are a way off, there have been moves made to potentially allow sports gambling in New Mexico.

HB101 was introduced on January 19, 2021, but died in committee. It would have expanded gambling to allow online gambling on sports, and retail sportsbooks at racinos. Additionally, poker, craps, and blackjack would also have been available at racetrack casinos.

This is not to say that sports betting is dead forever in the state – if there wasn’t substantial support for gambling in New Mexico, the bill would never have been introduced. It’s just that they’ll need to find a New Mexico online gambling bill which can pass through congress.

New Mexico Online Gambling FAQ

Does New Mexico allow pari-mutuel wagering?

Yes, pari-mutuel wagering at the state’s 5 live racetracks is permitted.

Does New Mexico have a state lottery?

Yes, New Mexico has a state lottery offering scratch tickets and lottery draws, although you cannot gamble online.

Are there New Mexico online casinos?

There are not. Even most states which have passed sports betting don’t have online casinos, and so New Mexico online casinos would seem to be some way away right now. Allowing any form of online gambling in New Mexico will depend on bipartisan support in State congress, and it may well be that they need to get sports betting through before they can address online gambling at casino sites.

Does New Mexico have legal sports betting?

Sports betting has not been legalized in New Mexico state. Still, some tribal casinos provide sports betting, believing their Class III license gives them legal standing. This has not been challenged, and it’s unlikely that it will be. Online sports betting is strictly prohibited right now, but there have been efforts to pass laws to allow sports gambling in New Mexico.

Does New Mexico have land-based casinos?

Yes, New Mexico has 24 Class III tribal casinos offering Vegas-style casino games. Some of these casinos also provide sportsbooks.

Are fantasy sports contests legal in New Mexico?

New Mexico does not have any laws on fantasy contests, so they are technically not legal. However, fantasy contests are tolerated in New Mexico since they are considered a game of skill. Indeed, many of the biggest fantasy contest operators, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, accept players from New Mexico.

What is the legal gambling age in New Mexico?

New Mexico’s legal gambling age depends on the type. Casino gambling requires New Mexicans to be 21 or older. Pari-mutuels, lotteries, and charitable gaming laws permit patrons 18 and over to participate.

Conclusion

New Mexico has plenty of land-based casinos for players who enjoy slot machines and table games. Visit a tribal casino, and you may even find that some offer sports betting. Still, New Mexico has room for improvement before we can consider it a genuinely gambling-friendly state.

For example, a move to regulate online gambling like online sports gambling, casino gaming & poker rooms would be a great addition. Until New Mexico legalizes interactive gaming, offshore online casinos would seem the workaround for people who want to gamble online.

Our experts recommend safe and trustworthy online casinos and bonuses earlier in this article. Also, because gambling regulations are constantly changing, revisit our New Mexico gambling page soon for updates.