New Mexico Casinos

Types of New Mexico Online Gambling Allowed

The only form of legal online gambling in New Mexico is off-track betting. TVG is the only site licensed to accept bets from players in the state.

Daily fantasy sports sites operate in New Mexico. They claim to be a skill game so they assert legality under state law. The state legislature and its attorney general have issued no opinions that refute this position.

There are dozens of online casinos, poker, and sports betting sites that accept New Mexico players. None are licensed to operate there, and players should verify their legitimacy.

Types of Live New Mexico Gambling

There is a state lottery that sells scratch-off and lotto tickets. Religious organizations and nonprofit private clubs hold bingo nights and raffle drawings.

New Mexico Gambling Laws

New Mexico gambling laws state that all forms of gambling are illegal unless specifically exempted under state law. Charities may hold games of chance if they qualify as a nonprofit organization under federal law. Raffles may not exceed $75,000 in prizes without 10 days of notice to the state gaming commission. Bingo and raffles may not be held more than once time per month and four times per year. The charity law exempts senior organizations, which may hold bingo nights as often as they wish.

The state’s racetracks must be licensed. Off-track betting is only permitted at registered tracks. Racing venues may also have slot machines, video poker, and electronic table games. New Mexico racinos have a tax rate of 46.25 percent.

The New Mexico Indian casinos must have a gaming compact. There is no limitation on casino games they can offer. Slots, video poker, electronic table games, live poker and table games are permitted. Table games may be of luck or chance. The tax rate on New Mexico casinos is 9 percent.

List of New Mexico Casinos

Ruidoso Downs and Sunland Park are the two New Mexico racinos. Each offer live racing, simulcast racing, slots, video poker, and electronic table games. There are 24 Native American casinos in New Mexico that offer a full slate of games. Find your preferred casino below or use our New Mexico casinos map to find the nearest one to you.

New Mexico Gambling History

Racing was the first form of legalized New Mexico gambling. That occurred in 1946. It held a monopoly in the region until the 1980’s. When Texas legalized horse racing, it led to a decline in the industry in New Mexico. That is when there began a push to bring in New Mexico casinos.

New Mexico Governor Bruce King was unwilling to negotiate compacts with tribes that were operating gray area games in the early 1990’s. Future Governor Gary Johnson ran on a platform that he would expand and legalize gambling on reservations. Johnson defeated King and in 1995 compacts began with more than a dozen tribes to operate New Mexico casinos.

Governor Johnson was also a proponent of a state lottery. He pushed for it and won in 1995. Johnson bought the first lottery ticket in state history.

Racetracks saw steep declines with the expansion of gambling on reservations. Ruidoso Downs and Sunland Park lobbied to add slots at their tracks, becoming the only two New Mexico racinos in the state. They prevailed in 1998, but the tax rate is 46.25 percent for these games; one of the highest in the country.

New Mexico Casinos & Gambling FAQ