Legal sports betting has arrived in New Mexico.
Even though there are now no options to place bets online, players at NM can gamble online sports in person in the Santa Ana Star Casino just 10 miles outside of Albuquerque.
More and more US states are legalizing sports betting and New Mexico is getting in on the activity. With one tribal casino already accepting stakes, and more expressing interest in doing the same, we expect the state to take steps towards greater widespread legalization in 2019.
In this complete guide to legal sports gambling in New Mexico we will have a close look at the recent laws in the country and that which we expect to happen in the near future. We are going to explain in which in New Mexico you can make bets and what sport you can gamble on.
Finally, we’ll explore the daily fantasy sports betting situation in the country and answer some of the most often asked questions about New Mexico sports betting.
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New Mexico Sports Betting at a Glance
New Mexico is now the sixth state to legalize sports gambling since the 2018 US Supreme Court decision to strike down a federal ban online sports gambling that was in effect since 1992. New Mexico joins Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, and West Virginia as part of their first wave of states to offer legal betting choices.
New Mexico’s situation is unique, however. Unlike the other countries on that list, New Mexico watched a tribal casino start taking bets on sports prior to any official state legislation had been passed.
The Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel, situated on the property of the Pueblo of Santa Ana Tamaya Nation tribe admitted its earliest bets in October of 2018. The compact that New Mexico has with the tribe allows all kinds of gaming which meant it was free to offer sports betting following the US Supreme Court decision.
The state of New Mexico hasn’t officially introduced legislation to legalize sports gambling but many industry experts believe it will happen soon since sports gambling is currently available in the state via the casino.
The Recent Online Sports Betting Situation in New Mexico
There is a lot going on in New Mexico sports betting and we want to highlight a few Important facts before we get into more detail:
Only 1 casino offers sports betting and currently does not have cellular or online wagering.
There are rumors that a second tribal casino, the Inn of the Mountain Gods that’s operated by the Mescalero Apache tribe, even in Ruidoso, is planning to open another sportsbook in 2019.
Pueblo of Santa Ana Gambling Regulatory Commission will oversee all sports betting activity.
Operations will be managed by Las Vegas-based USBookmaking.
First betting limits are $5 minimum, $500 maximum per wager.
No wagering permitted on New Mexico or New Mexico State NCAA sports.
In case you haven’t discovered, the recent Supreme Court decision was a complete game-changer from the United States sports gambling industry.
What exactly happened and how does it impact New Mexico?
In May of 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of an appeal from the state of New Jersey that sought to overturn a quarter-century old ban on sports gambling. That law, called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), essentially prohibited sports gambling anywhere in the USA except for Nevada.
Eliminating PASPA gave each nation the opportunity to create its own laws on sports gambling to choose if it should be allowed and in what form. Four states united Nevada straight off the bat. New Mexico, being the sixth in the nation, has gone about it in another way than all of the rest.
As a result of loophole in their compact with local tribal bands that neither prohibits or sanctions legal sports betting, the Santa Ana tribe could and has lawfully established sports betting on its land in an unheralded method. Details of said loophole are seen in the area below.
New Mexico Sports Betting Laws Summary
The biggest gap between New Mexico and other nations is a particular region of the agreement that the nation made with the Pueblo of Santa Ana Tamaya Nation tribe seeing gaming.
It states that Class III gambling is allowed which comprises both sports gambling and pari-mutuel wagering.
A direct transcript in the countries:
The Tribe may run, only on Indian Lands, subject to each the terms and conditions of this Compact, any or all forms of casino-style gambling, including but not restricted to slot machines and other forms of electronic gambling devices; all forms of poker, blackjack and other casino-style card games, both banked and unbanked; blackjack; craps; keno; wheel of luck; pai gow; and other matches played casino configurations; and any form of a lottery.
Details of the current position are as follows:
The first state to take bets without official state legislature regulating sports gambling.
Tribal-State compact allows all forms of Class III gaming.
Sports gambling and pari-mutuel wagering are included in Class III gambling.
Betting on all major sports and NCAA with the exclusion of faculty teams at New Mexico.
No alcohol will be served in the sportsbook
Sportsbook open Noon to 8pm on weekdays; 7am to 10pm on weekends.
Must be 21 decades of age to gamble anywhere in casino.
The Annals of Online Sports Betting in New Mexico
If you love gambling New Mexico has been a wonderful place to reside for a long time, since the late 1940s in fact. There are both tribal and state-based casinos in addition to many horse racing tracks.
New Mexico’s situation is interesting because of their innovative method of overturning old laws and regulations. Let us take a look at a few of the most historical gambling moments from the state’s past.
1947 – Legalization of horse racing. First legal Pari-Mutuel Horse race gambling starts at Hollywood park – today called Ruidoso Park.
1978 – Charity gaming and bingo legalized for seniors to get smaller bets. Not for profit of organizers.
1988 – Governor refuses to sign prices for 1988 Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Loses subsequent election.
1990 – New officials of state authorities re-negotiates compacts with Native Tribes,
1995 – Tribal compacts become law. New casinos created. Horse racing paths allowed to feature slot machines as part of the deal in order to compete with casinos.
1995 – New Mexico lottery generated.
2011 – Albuquerque Downs Casino opens, becoming the very first non-tribal casino.
October 16, 2018 – The initial legal sports bet is placed in New Mexico at the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook.
The very first wager was a $30 moneyline bet placed on the Houston Astros to conquer the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, the ticket dropped.
While New Mexicans have appreciated a more progressive stance on gambling as a whole in recent decades, these new developments are certain to bring much more local interest. Since the casino and sportsbook stay private and owned by the nation, it’s unknown what sort of earnings will go to the state.
Tax revenue and public demand are the two largest factors that push state lawmakers into actions and New Mexico appears to have both of them covered.
Which Online Sports Betting Sites are Legal in New Mexico?
You cannot make any sports bets online in New Mexico, yet. For the reason there are now no online sportsbooks offered in the state.
The next is from the tribal/state compact and indicates that online gambling is a possibility but would require the nation to legalize internet gaming and make an amendment to the streamlined:
«In case internet gaming is approved within the State, the State and the Tribe agree that they will reopen good faith negotiations to assess the impact, if any, of internet gaming and consider adjustments to the Compact. The parties understand and agree that it is not possible to determine now what, if any, alterations to the Compact will be critical.»
At the moment there’s just the choice to place bets in person at one of the four kiosks within the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook.
There are two self-service kiosks open 24/7 and clerks can be found to take your stakes from noon to 8pm on weekdays and from 7am to 10pm on weekends.
It’s still unknown when and if online gambling on sports will be accessible in New Mexico but for this very first sportsbook already running the future looks bright.
Sports gambling, specifically online sports gambling, is a massive money maker and New Mexico is poised to reap the rewards if they proceed with legalization in 2019.
What Sports Could You Bet Online in New Mexico?
At the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook you can bet on all significant sports and many less popular non-marquee sportsbetting. It is likely to bet on NCAA sports with the exception of games which involve New Mexico-based collegiate teams.
So unfortunately for fans of this New Mexico University Lobos or the New Mexico State Aggies, watching the match without betting on it will have to suffice.
Betting options include but are not Limited to:
NFL
NBA
MLB
Golf
NHL
MMA
Football CFL
e-Sports
Tennis
NCAA games that don’t include New Mexico teams
Minor league sports
How to Bet on Sports Legally in New Mexico
To place sports bets at the Santa Ana Star sportsbook you must be of legal gambling age which is 21.
As they do not have nor function through a mobile program, it is not required to register for an account so as to place a bet. If they do pose a mobile option, just follow the sportsbook app’s instructions to install and fund your account.
The Santa Ana Star has a committed sportsbook which has 24/7 gambling kiosks and live cashier clerks working from noon to 8pm on weekdays and 7am to 10pm on weekends.
Putting bets with the kiosk or directly in the cashier is simple. All you need to know is that the game that you would like to wager on, the kind of bet you need to create and how much you want to wager. Either enter the info using a kiosk or inform the clerk.
In any event you’ll obtain a betting slip that you may use to redeem your payout if the bet is a winner.
Is Betting on Fantasy Sports Legal in New Mexico?
Yes, gambling on daily fantasy sports betting is legal in New Mexico.
It’s legal for people in New Mexico to perform on all the significant DFS sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
Locals can rest assured that playing DFS for real cash is safe and secure as DFS wagering is controlled by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and the US Gambling Commission.
What Is the Future of Online Sports Betting in New Mexico?
Technically speaking, we’re halfway there already since sports betting is offered in the country, albeit in person. That is a fantastic first step.
Although New Mexico has taken an alternative path to legal sports betting, the simple fact that it exists in the nation is very good reason to believe it will enlarge and grow over time.
If and when this does happen we will certainly see mobile and online sports betting available from the state.
What happens throughout 2019 will be very telling as much as what we can expect in addition to the sportsbook at the Santa Ana Star Casino.
We know that a different casino, the Inn of the Mountain Gods, in Ruidoso, is anxious to join the mix. A second casino sportsbook would only add momentum to what is currently building.
There are more steps involved in making online sports gambling legal. The current legislation might need to be altered and the tribal compacts in the state will need to be renegotiated. Check back on this page soon for almost any developments as they happen.
Recap: Legal New Mexico Sports Betting Arrives
The developments in New Mexico have revealed a brand new way that sports gambling may become available in other states, even if those countries have not passed pro-sports gambling laws.
People in New Mexico are already enjoying reside legal betting on tribal property and experts forecast the state authorities will take a critical look for an official piece of law in 2019.
Like any other state questioning whether or not to create a sports betting industry New Mexico will get a harder and harder time dismissing the opportunity as neighboring states start generating significant revenue.
With New Mexico’s unique circumstances it will be able to observe how nicely sportsbooks do inside its own borders and use that information to create a determination on expanding state-wide laws.
If you reside in New Mexico, make certain that you bookmark this page and wait for major developments that help or harm the state’s chances of introducing more gambling options.
To find out more about other areas of the country, browse our guides to authorized US sports betting for every nation.
New Mexico Online Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports gambling legal in New Mexico?
Yes, but only at one land-based casino. New Mexico is unique compared to other states since while the government has not legalized sports betting, a legal loophole in the tribal-state compact enables it at tribal casinos.
Where can I bet on sports in New Mexico?
Currently the only location in New Mexico to put down a sports bets is in the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook. However, there are rumors of a second tribal casino opening that the sportsbook of their own in 2019.
Should we see this occur in the coming year we would logically deduce that more tribal casinos will follow lawsuit later.
What sports can I bet on in New Mexico?
It is possible to gamble on almost any game from North America and across the world including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA golf, NCAA basketball and football, MMA, soccer, CFL, NASCAR, tennis and plenty of minor league sports.
The only major exception is that gambling on NCAA games that involve New Mexico colleges isn’t allowed.
What sports are illegal to bet on in New Mexico?
Betting on high school sports is not allowed. Wagers can be drawn up on NCAA sports with the exclusion of local New Mexican schools.
Is it illegal to bet using offshore sports betting websites?
While US law does not make gambling with offshore sportsbooks explicitly prohibited, we don’t recommend it. We suggest using the legal and licensed alternatives open to you. At New Mexico right now which means betting in person at a tribal casino. Soon this may also include non-tribal sportsbooks and online choices.
Read more: rbtlsports.com