Is Online Sports Betting Legal in New Mexico?
Legal sports gambling has arrived at New Mexico.
Even though there are now no options to set bets online, players in NM can bet on sports in person at the Santa Ana Star Casino just 10 miles outside of Albuquerque.
More and more US states are legalizing sports gambling and New Mexico is getting in on the activity. With a single tribal casino accepting stakes, and more expressing interest in doing the same, we expect the state to take actions towards greater widespread legalization in 2019.
In this complete guide to legal sports betting in New Mexico we will have a good look at the current laws at the country and what we expect to happen in the near future. We are going to explain where in New Mexico you can make bets and what sports you can bet on.
Ultimately, we will explore the daily fantasy sports betting situation in the state and answer a few of the most often asked questions about New Mexico sports gambling.
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New Mexico Sports Betting at a Glance
New Mexico is now the sixth country to legalize sports betting since the 2018 US Supreme Court decision to strike down a federal ban on sports gambling that was 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 gambling options.
New Mexico’s situation is unique, however. Unlike the other states on that list, New Mexico saw a tribal casino begin taking bets on sports prior to any official state laws was passed.
The Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel, situated on the land of the Pueblo of Santa Ana Tamaya Nation tribe admitted its first bets in October of 2018. The streamlined that New Mexico has the tribe makes it possible for all kinds of gambling which meant it was free to offer sports gambling following the US Supreme Court decision.
The state of New Mexico hasn’t officially introduced laws to legalize sports gambling but most industry experts believe it will happen soon since sports betting is already available from the country through the tribal casino.
The Recent Online Sports Betting Situation in New Mexico
There is a lot going on in New Mexico sports betting and We Would like to highlight a few Important details before we get into more detail:
Just 1 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 operated by the Mescalero Apache tribe, even in Ruidoso, is planning to start another sportsbook in 2019.
Pueblo of Santa Ana Gambling Regulatory Commission will oversee sports betting activity.
Operations will be managed by Las Vegas-based USBookmaking.
Initial betting limits are $5 minimum, $500 maximum per bet.
No wagering allowed on New Mexico or New Mexico State NCAA sports.
If you haven’t heard, 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 impact New Mexico?
In May of 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of an appeal from the state of New Jersey that sought to overturn a quarter-century old ban on sports gambling. That law, known as the skilled and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), basically prohibited sports gambling everywhere in the USA except for Nevada.
Getting rid of PASPA gave every state the opportunity to make its own laws online sports gambling to decide if it should be permitted and in what form. Four nations joined Nevada straight off the bat. New Mexico, being the sixth in the nation, has gone about it in a different way than all the rest.
Due to a loophole in their compact with local tribal bands that neither prohibits or sanctions legal sports gambling, the Santa Ana tribe could and has lawfully established sports betting on its territory in an unheralded method. Details of said loophole are found at the area below.
New Mexico Sports Betting Laws Summary
The largest gap between New Mexico and other nations is a particular part of the agreement that the state made using the Pueblo of Santa Ana Tamaya Nation tribe regarding gaming.
It states that Class III gaming is permitted which comprises both sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering.
A direct transcript in the countries:
The Tribe may conduct, 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 limited to slot machines and other kinds of electronic gaming devices; all forms of poker, blackjack and other casino-style card games, both banked and unbanked; roulette; craps; keno; wheel of luck; pai gow; and other games played casino settings; and any kind of a lottery.
Details of the current standing are as follows:
First state to carry bets with no official state legislature regulating sports gambling.
Tribal-State compact lets all types 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 exception of college teams at New Mexico.
No alcohol will be served at 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 gaming New Mexico is a wonderful place to live for a long time, since the late 1940s in fact. You will find both tribal and state-based casinos in addition to several horse racing tracks.
New Mexico’s situation is intriguing due to their progressive approach to age-old laws and regulations. Let us take a look at some of the most historical gambling minutes 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 gambling and bingo legalized for seniors for smaller bets. Not for profit of organizers.
1988 – Governor won’t sign prices 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 eventually become law. New casinos created. Horse racing paths allowed to incorporate slot machines as part of the deal so as 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 wager is put 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 defeat the Boston Red Sox. The ticket lost.
Even though New Mexicans have enjoyed a progressive stance on gambling as a whole in recent decades, these new developments are certain to bring even more local interest. Considering that the casino and sportsbook remain private and owned by the nation, it is unknown what type of earnings will go to the state.
Tax revenue and people demand are the two biggest factors that 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 cannot make any sports bets online in New Mexico, nevertheless. For the reason there are currently no online sportsbooks available from the state.
The next is by the tribal/state streamlined and suggests that online gambling is a chance but might require the state to legalize internet gaming and make an amendment to the streamlined:
„In the event that online gaming is authorized within the State, the State and the Tribe agree that they will reopen good faith negotiations to assess the effect, if any, of internet gambling and consider alterations to the Compact. The parties agree and understand it is not feasible to determine at this time what, if any, adjustments to the Compact will be necessary.”
At the moment there’s only the option 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 available 24/7 and clerks are available to take your stakes from noon to 8pm on weekdays and from 7am to 10pm on weekends.
It is still unknown if and when online betting on sports will be accessible in New Mexico but with this first sportsbook already running the future looks bright.
Sports gambling, especially online sports gambling, is a massive money maker and New Mexico is poised to reap the rewards should they proceed with legalization in 2019.
What Sports Can You Bet on Online in 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’s possible to bet on NCAA sports with the exception of games that involve New Mexico-based collegiate teams.
So unfortunately for fans of the New Mexico University Lobos or the New Mexico State Aggies, watching the match without gambling on it Will Need to suffice.
Betting options include but are not limited to:
NFL
NBA
MLB
Golf
NHL
MMA
Football CFL
e-Sports
Tennis
NCAA matches that don’t include New Mexico teams
Minor league sports
The Way to Bet on Sports Legally in New Mexico
To place sports bets in the Santa Ana Star sportsbook you have to be of legal gambling age that’s 21.
As they don’t have nor function through a cell program, it is not required to register for an account in order to place a bet. If they do introduce a cell option, just stick to the sportsbook program’s instructions to install and fund your accounts.
The Santa Ana Star includes a committed sportsbook which has 24/7 betting kiosks and live 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 easy. All you need to know is that the game you want to wager on, the type of wager that you want to make and how much you would like to bet. Either enter the data using a kiosk or tell the clerk.
In any event you will receive a betting slip which you can use to redeem your payout when the wager is a winner.
Is Betting on Fantasy Sports Legal in New Mexico?
Yes, betting on daily fantasy sports is legal in New Mexico.
It is legal for individuals in New Mexico to play all the major DFS websites such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
Locals may rest assured that playing DFS for real money is safe and protected 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 are halfway there since sports betting is offered in the country, albeit in person. That’s a fantastic first step.
Although New Mexico has taken an alternate path to legal sports gambling, the simple fact that it already exists in the nation is very good reason to think it will enlarge and grow over time.
When and if this does occur 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 along with the sportsbook at the Santa Ana Star Casino.
We are aware that a different casino, the Inn of the Mountain Gods, in Ruidoso, is anxious to join the mixture. Another casino sportsbook would only serve to add momentum to what is currently building.
There are more steps involved with making online sports gambling legal. The present laws will have to be altered along with the tribal compacts from the country is going to have to be renegotiated. Check back on this page soon for almost 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 other nations, even though those countries have not passed pro-sports gambling laws.
People in New Mexico are already enjoying live legal gambling on tribal land and experts forecast the state government will take a critical look at an official piece of legislation in 2019.
Similar to any other state questioning if to create a sports betting industry New Mexico will get a harder and harder time dismissing the opportunity as neighboring countries begin generating substantial revenue.
With New Mexico’s unique circumstances it is going to be able to observe how nicely sportsbooks do within its own boundaries and use that information to create a determination on expanding state-wide laws.
If you live in New Mexico, be certain that you bookmark this page and wait to important developments that either help or harm the nation’s probability of introducing more betting options.
To find out more about other areas of the country, browse our guides to authorized US sports gambling for each state.
New Mexico Online Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports gambling legal in New Mexico?
Yes, but only at one particular casino. New Mexico is exceptional in contrast to other states since while the government hasn’t legalized sports gambling, a legal loophole in the tribal-state compact allows for it in tribal casinos.
Where do I bet on sports in New Mexico?
Currently the only place in New Mexico to put down a sports stakes is at the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel sportsbook. However, there are rumors of a second tribal casino opening that the sportsbook of the own in 2019.
If 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 just about any game from North America and around the world including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA golf, NCAA basketball and football, MMA, soccer, CFL, NASCAR, tennis and tons of baseball.
The only significant exception is that gambling on NCAA games that involve New Mexico schools is not allowed.
What sports are illegal to wager on in New Mexico?
Betting on high school sports is not permitted. Wagers can be made on NCAA sports together with the exception of neighborhood New Mexican schools.
Is it illegal to wager using offshore sports gambling sites?
While US law doesn’t make betting with offshore sportsbooks explicitly prohibited, we do not suggest it. We propose using the legal and licensed alternatives available to you. In New Mexico right now which means betting in person in a tribal casino. Soon that may also consist of non-tribal sportsbooks and online options.
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