Legal sports gambling has arrived in New Mexico.
Even though there are currently no choices to place bets on the internet, players in NM can bet online sports in person in the Santa Ana Star Casino only 10 miles outside of Albuquerque.
More and more US states are legalizing sports gambling and New Mexico is getting in on the action. With a single tribal casino accepting bets, and more expressing interest in doing the same, we all expect the country to take steps towards greater widespread legalization in 2019.
In this comprehensive guide to legal sports gambling in New Mexico we will have a good look at the recent laws in the country and what we expect to occur in the not too distant future. We are going to clarify where in New Mexico you can create bets and what sports you can gamble on.
Ultimately, we will learn more about the daily fantasy sports gambling situation in the country and answer a few of the most often asked questions about New Mexico sports betting.
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New Mexico Sports Betting at a Glance
New Mexico has become the sixth state to legalize sports betting since the 2018 US Supreme Court decision to strike down a federal ban online sports gambling that had been in effect since 1992. New Mexico joins Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, and West Virginia as part of the initial wave of countries to offer legal betting choices.
New Mexico’s situation is exceptional, however. Unlike the other countries on that record, New Mexico watched a tribal casino start taking bets on sports prior to any official state laws 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 streamlined that New Mexico has with the tribe allows all kinds of gaming which meant it was free to provide sports betting following the US Supreme Court decision.
The country of New Mexico hasn’t officially introduced laws to legalize sports gambling but most industry experts believe it’ll happen soon since sports gambling is already available from the country through the casino.
The Current Online Sports Betting Situation at New Mexico
There is a lot going on in New Mexico sports betting and We Would like to highlight some key details before we get into more detail:
Only one casino offers sports betting and currently doesn’t have cellular or internet wagering.
There are rumors that a 2nd tribal casino, the Inn of the Mountain Gods which is run by the Mescalero Apache tribe, in Ruidoso, will start an additional sportsbook in 2019.
Pueblo of Santa Ana Gambling Regulatory Commission will oversee all sports gambling activity.
Operations will be handled by Las Vegas-based USBookmaking.
Initial betting limits are $5 minimum, $500 maximum per wager.
No wagering allowed on New Mexico or New Mexico State NCAA sports.
If you haven’t discovered, the current Supreme Court decision was a complete game-changer in the United States sports betting industry.
So what exactly happened and how does it affect New Mexico?
In May of 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of an appeal by the state of New Jersey that sought to overturn a quarter-century old ban online sports gambling. That law, known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), essentially prohibited sports betting everywhere in the USA except for Nevada.
Eliminating PASPA gave each state the chance to make its own laws on sports gambling to decide if it should be allowed and in what form. Four nations joined Nevada right off the bat. New Mexico, being the sixth largest in the country, has gone about it in a different manner than all the rest.
Due to a loophole in their compact with local tribal groups that neither prohibits or sanctions legal sports gambling, the Santa Ana tribe can and has lawfully established sports gambling on its land in an unheralded method. Details of stated loophole can be found in the area below.
New Mexico Sports Betting Laws Summary
The biggest difference between New Mexico and other states is a particular part of the agreement that the state made with the Pueblo of Santa Ana Tamaya Nation tribe regarding gaming.
It states that all Class III gaming is permitted which includes both sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering.
A transcript from the countries that are compact:
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 gaming, including but not restricted to slot machines and other forms of electronic gaming devices; all types of poker, blackjack and other casino-style card games, both banked and unbanked; blackjack; craps; keno; wheel of luck; pai gow; and other games played casino configurations; and any kind of a lottery.
Details of the current standing are as follows:
The first state to carry bets without official state legislature regulating sports gambling.
Tribal-State compact allows all types of Class III gaming.
Sports gaming and pari-mutuel wagering are included in Class III gaming.
Betting on all significant sports and NCAA with the exception of college teams in 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 years old to gamble anywhere in casino.
The Annals of Online Sports Betting in New Mexico
If you love gambling New Mexico is a wonderful place to reside for quite a while, because the late 1940s in fact. You will find both tribal and state-based casinos as well as many horse racing tracks.
New Mexico’s scenario is intriguing because of their progressive approach to age-old regulations and laws. Let us look at some of the most historic gambling minutes from the country’s past.
1947 – Legalization of horse racing. First legal Pari-Mutuel Horse race gambling starts at Hollywood park – today known as Ruidoso Park.
1978 – Charity gambling and bingo hailed for elders for smaller stakes. Not for benefit of organizers.
1988 – Governor refuses to sign deals for 1988 Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Loses following 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 incorporate slot machines as part of this deal so as to compete with casinos.
1995 – New Mexico lottery generated.
2011 – Albuquerque Downs Casino opens, becoming the first non-tribal casino.
October 16, 2018 – The first legal sports bet is placed in New Mexico in the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook.
The very first wager was a 30 moneyline wager placed on the Houston Astros to conquer the Boston Red Sox. The ticket lost.
While New Mexicans have appreciated a more progressive stance on gambling as a whole in recent decades, these new developments are certain to bring even more interest. Since the casino and sportsbook remain private and owned by the tribal nation, it’s unknown what type of revenue will go to the state.
Tax revenue and public need are the two largest factors which push state lawmakers into action and New Mexico appears to have both of them covered.
Which Online Sports Betting Sites are Legal in New Mexico?
You can’t make any sports bets online in New Mexico, yet. For the reason there are now no online sportsbooks available in the state.
The next is by the tribal/state compact and indicates that online gambling is a chance but might require the state to legalize online gaming and make an amendment to the compact:
“In the event that internet gaming is approved within the State, the State and the Tribe agree that they’ll reopen good faith negotiations to evaluate the effect, if any, of online gambling 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 would be critical.”
At the moment there’s only the option to place stakes in person at one of those four kiosks inside the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook.
There are just two self-service kiosks open 24/7 and clerks are available to carry your bets from noon to 8pm on weekdays and from 7am to 10pm on weekends.
It is still unknown when and if online gambling on sports will soon be available in New Mexico but with this very first sportsbook running the future looks bright.
Sports gaming, specifically online sports gambling, is a massive money maker and New Mexico is poised to reap the benefits should they go with legalization in 2019.
What Sports Can You Bet on Online at New Mexico?
In the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook you can bet on all major sports and many less popular non-marquee sports. It is possible to bet on NCAA sports with the exception of matches which involve New Mexico-based collegiate teams.
So unfortunately for fans of the New Mexico University Lobos or the New Mexico State Aggies, watching the game without gambling on it will have to suffice.
Betting options include but are not Limited to:
NFL
NBA
MLB
Golf
NHL
MMA
Soccer CFL
e-Sports
Tennis
NCAA games that don’t include New Mexico teams
Minor league sports
The Way to Bet on Sports Legally in New Mexico
To put sports bets at the Santa Ana Star sportsbook you have to be of legal gaming age that’s 21.
As they don’t have nor function through a mobile program, it isn’t required to register for an account so as to place a wager. If they do introduce a mobile option, just stick to the sportsbook program’s instructions to set up and fund your accounts.
The Santa Ana Star includes a committed sportsbook that has 24/7 betting kiosks and reside cashier clerks working from noon to 8pm on weekdays and 7am to 10pm on weekends.
Placing bets with the kiosk or directly at the cashier is simple. All you have to know is the game you would like to bet on, the kind of bet that you want to create and how much you want to wager. Either enter the data using a kiosk or inform the clerk.
In any event you’ll receive a betting slip that you can 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 is legal in New Mexico.
It’s legal for individuals in New Mexico to play on all the major DFS sites including DraftKings and FanDuel.
Locals may rest assured that playing DFS for real cash is safe and secure since DFS wagering is controlled by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and the US Gambling Commission.
What’s the Future of Online Sports Betting at New Mexico?
Technically speaking, we’re halfway there already since sports gambling is offered from 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 already exists in the nation is very good reason to believe it will expand and grow over time.
If and when this does occur we shall certainly see online and mobile sports betting available in the state.
What occurs during 2019 will be very telling as much as what we could expect in addition to the sportsbook at the Santa Ana Star Casino.
We are aware that another casino, the Inn of the Mountain Gods, in Ruidoso, is anxious to join the mixture. A second casino sportsbook could only serve to add momentum to what is currently building.
There are more steps involved with making online sports gambling legal. The present legislation will have to be changed along with the tribal compacts from the state is going to have to be renegotiated. Check back on this page soon for any developments as they occur.
Recap: Legal New Mexico Sports Betting Arrives
The developments in New Mexico have shown a new way that sports betting may become available in different nations, even if those countries have not passed pro-sports gaming legislation.
People in New Mexico are already enjoying live legal gambling on tribal property and experts predict the state government will take a serious look for an official item of legislation in 2019.
Similar to any other state questioning if to make a sports betting industry New Mexico is going to have a harder and harder time dismissing the chance as neighboring countries begin generating substantial earnings.
With New Mexico’s unique situation it will have the ability to observe how well sportsbooks do inside its own borders and utilize that information to create a decision on expanding state-wide laws.
If you reside in New Mexico, then make sure to bookmark this page and wait to major developments that help or harm the nation’s chances of introducing more betting options.
To find out more about other areas of the country, browse our guides to legal US sports betting for every state.
New Mexico Online Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports gambling legal in New Mexico?
Yes, but only at one land-based casino. New Mexico is exceptional in contrast to other states because while the government has not legalized sports gambling, a legal loophole at the tribal-state compact enables it in tribal casinos.
Where do I bet on sports in New Mexico?
Currently the only location in New Mexico to lay down a sports stakes is at the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook. But, there are rumors of a second tribal casino opening a 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 suit afterwards.
What sports can I wager on in New Mexico?
It is possible to gamble on just about any game from North America and across the world including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA golf, NCAA football and basketball, MMA, soccer, CFL, NASCAR, tennis and tons of minor league sports.
The only major exception is that betting on NCAA games which involve New Mexico colleges isn’t allowed.
What sports are prohibited to bet on in New Mexico?
Betting on high school sports is not allowed. Wagers can be made on NCAA sports together with the exception 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 authorized and licensed options open to you. In New Mexico right now which means betting in person in a tribal casino. Soon this may also include non-tribal sportsbooks and online options.

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