New Mexico Casinos

New Mexico gambling has a long history of horse racing. The other forms of gambling in New Mexico did not take place until the 1990’s, when Governor Gary Johnson used it as a platform in his election campaign. Johnson promised to sign gaming compacts with Native American tribes and create a state lottery. He was successful in doing both. New Mexico casinos and racinos were also created under his watch.

There are currently 26 New Mexico casinos currently operating in the state. Most casinos in New Mexico are Native American casinos located on reservations; with only two being commercial casinos. To locate the nearest casino, players can use our New Mexico casinos map or the list below.

New Mexico Casinos & Gambling
New Mexico Legal Gambling Age18 lottery & racing
21 casino
Number of Casinos50
Estimated Casino Revenue$900 million
Smoking banExempts casinos
Can You Gamble Online in Alabama?Yes
New Mexico Online GamblingHorse Racing

Paying Gambling Taxes in New Mexico

Important: Your gambling income is taxable! OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes on your gambling winnings straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.

Types of New Mexico Online Gambling Allowed

Horseracing iconThe 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 are four types of live gambling options in New Mexico. There are two horse racing tracks. They are Ruidoso Downs and Sunland Park. These venues offer live racing, off-track betting, slots, video poker and electronic table games.

 

There are 24 Native American casinos and two commercial New Mexico casinos currently operating in the state. These New Mexico casinos may offer popular games like slots, video poker, electronic table games, live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and any house-banked table game approved by the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. Some of the smaller New Mexico casinos can only offer slot games and video poker.

Types of Legal Gambling in Wyoming
Game TypeIs it Legal?
SlotsYes
BlackjackYes
PokerYes
Craps/RouletteNo
Horse RacingYes
LotteryYes
Sports BettingYes

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 lawsNew 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.

CasinoSizeAddressWebsite
Apache Nugget Casino – Dulce130 Slot MachinesUS-550www.apachenugget.com
Buffalo Thunder Resort – Santa Fe1,200 Slot Machines20 Buffalo Thunder Trailwww.buffalothunderresort.com
Camel Rock Casino – Santa Fe500 Slot Machines17486A Co Rd. 84www.camelrockcasino.com
Casino Apache – Mescalero380 Slot Machines25845 US-70www.innofthemountaingods.com
Casino Xpress – Casa Blanca132 Slot MachinesI-40, Exit 108www.dancingeaglecasino.com
Cities of Gold Casino – Santa Fe575 Slot Machines10-B Cities of Gold Rd.www.citiesofgold.com
Dancing Eagle Casino – Casa Blanca600 Slot Machines167 Casa Blanca Rd.www.dancingeaglecasino.com
Fire Rock Casino – Church Rock900 Slot Machines249 Rte 66www.firerocknavajocasino.com
Flowing Waters Casino – Waterflow125 Slot Machines2710 US-64www.flowingwater.com
Inn of the Mountain Gods – Mescalero840 Slot Machines287 Carrizo Canyon Rd.www.innofthemountaingods.com
Isleta Resort – Albuquerque1,800 Slot Machines11000 Broadway Blvd. SEwww.isleta.com
Kicks 66 – Santa Fe10 Slot Machines67 Ogo Wii Rd.www.phillips66gas.com
Nambe Falls Casino – Santa Fe180 Slot Machines17730 US-84www.nambefallscasino.com
Northern Edge Navajo Casino – Fruitland750 Slot Machines2752 Indian Service Road 36www.northernedgenavajocasino.com
Ohkay Casino – San Juan Pablo700 Slot Machines68 NM-291www.ohkay.com
Palace West Casino – Isleta90 Slot Machines2 NM-45www.isleta.com
Route 66 Casino – Albuquerque1,700 Slot Machines14500 Central Ave. SWwww.rt66casino.com
San Felipe Casino – San Felipe600 Slot Machines25 Hagen Rd.www.sanfelipecasino.com
Sandia Resort and Casino – Albuquerque2,300 Slot Machines30 Rainbow Rd.www.sandiacasino.com
Santa Ana Star – Bernalillo1,450 Slot Machines54 Jemez Canyon Dam Rd.www.santaanastar.com
Santa Claran Casino – Espanola650 Slot Machines460 N. Riverside Dr.www.santaclaran.com
Sky City Casino – Acoma640 Slot MachinesI-40 Exit 102www.skycity.com
Taos Mountain Casino – Taos200 Slot Machines700 Veterans Hwywww.taosmountaincasino.com
Wild Horse Casino – Dulce190 Slot Machines13603 US-64www.apachenugget.com

New Mexico Casinos Map & Guide

Top Casinos
  • Isleta Resort
  • Wild Horse Casino
  • Buffalo Thunder Resort
  • Cities of Gold Casino
  • Kicks 66
  • 26
  • 8
  • 24

New Mexico Gambling History

New Mexico casinos historyRacing 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.

Michigan Regulated Gambling
Racing1946
Casinos1995
Lottery1995
Bingo2009

New Mexico Casinos & Gambling FAQ

Is horse racing legal in New Mexico?

Yes. It has been since 1946.

Are there casinos in New Mexico?

Yes. There are 26 casinos in the state.

What games are legal in New Mexico casinos?

Video poker, slots, live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and other house-banked card games are spread at New Mexico casinos.

What games are spread at Ruidoso Downs and Sunland Park?

Live horse racing, off-track betting, slots, video poker and electronic table games are spread at New Mexico’s two racinos.

What is the tax rate for casinos in New Mexico?

Tribal casinos pay the state nine percent on qualified games. The racinos have an effective tax rate of 46.25 percent on all games.

What is the minimum gambling age in New Mexico?

The minimum New Mexico gambling age is 18 years for lottery and horse racing. New Mexico casino players must be at least 21 years. There is no minimum gambling age for charitable gaming.

Is smoking permitted in New Mexico casinos?

New Mexico’s smoking ban exempts casinos.

Is betting on horses over the Internet legal in New Mexico?

Yes. TVG is the only major licensed site.

What games are offered by the New Mexico Lottery?

Scratch-off tickets and lotto drawings, including Powerball and Mega Millions, are spread by the New Mexico Lottery.