Gambling In New Mexico Average ratng: 3,7/5 654 votes
The first Indian casino in New Mexico opened in the 1994. 1988 IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) established by congress for governing Indian gambling distinguishing tribal gaming into Class I, II. Gambling Laws in New Mexico The minimum gambling age is 21 at all New Mexico casinos and 18 for bingo or pari-mutuel betting. Please note that all New Mexico casinos are prohibited from serving.
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 Age | 18 lottery & racing 21 casino |
| Number of Casinos | 50 |
| Estimated Casino Revenue | $900 million |
| Smoking ban | Exempts casinos |
| Can You Gamble Online in Alabama? | Yes |
| New Mexico Online Gambling | Horse 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.
New Mexico Casinos Map & Guide
- Isleta Resort
- Wild Horse Casino
- Buffalo Thunder Resort
- Cities of Gold Casino
- Kicks 66
- 26
- 8
- 24
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 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 Type | Is it Legal? |
| Slots | Yes |
| Blackjack | Yes |
| Poker | Yes |
| Craps/Roulette | No |
| Horse Racing | Yes |
| Lottery | Yes |
| Sports Betting | Yes |
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.
| Casino | Size | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Nugget Casino – Dulce | 130 Slot Machines | US-550 | www.apachenugget.com |
| Buffalo Thunder Resort – Santa Fe | 1,200 Slot Machines | 20 Buffalo Thunder Trail | www.buffalothunderresort.com |
| Camel Rock Casino – Santa Fe | 500 Slot Machines | 17486A Co Rd. 84 | www.camelrockcasino.com |
| Casino Apache – Mescalero | 380 Slot Machines | 25845 US-70 | www.innofthemountaingods.com |
| Casino Xpress – Casa Blanca | 132 Slot Machines | I-40, Exit 108 | www.dancingeaglecasino.com |
| Cities of Gold Casino – Santa Fe | 575 Slot Machines | 10-B Cities of Gold Rd. | www.citiesofgold.com |
| Dancing Eagle Casino – Casa Blanca | 600 Slot Machines | 167 Casa Blanca Rd. | www.dancingeaglecasino.com |
| Fire Rock Casino – Church Rock | 900 Slot Machines | 249 Rte 66 | www.firerocknavajocasino.com |
| Flowing Waters Casino – Waterflow | 125 Slot Machines | 2710 US-64 | www.flowingwater.com |
| Inn of the Mountain Gods – Mescalero | 840 Slot Machines | 287 Carrizo Canyon Rd. | www.innofthemountaingods.com |
| Isleta Resort – Albuquerque | 1,800 Slot Machines | 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE | www.isleta.com |
| Kicks 66 – Santa Fe | 10 Slot Machines | 67 Ogo Wii Rd. | www.phillips66gas.com |
| Nambe Falls Casino – Santa Fe | 180 Slot Machines | 17730 US-84 | www.nambefallscasino.com |
| Northern Edge Navajo Casino – Fruitland | 750 Slot Machines | 2752 Indian Service Road 36 | www.northernedgenavajocasino.com |
| Ohkay Casino – San Juan Pablo | 700 Slot Machines | 68 NM-291 | www.ohkay.com |
| Palace West Casino – Isleta | 90 Slot Machines | 2 NM-45 | www.isleta.com |
| Route 66 Casino – Albuquerque | 1,700 Slot Machines | 14500 Central Ave. SW | www.rt66casino.com |
| San Felipe Casino – San Felipe | 600 Slot Machines | 25 Hagen Rd. | www.sanfelipecasino.com |
| Sandia Resort and Casino – Albuquerque | 2,300 Slot Machines | 30 Rainbow Rd. | www.sandiacasino.com |
| Santa Ana Star – Bernalillo | 1,450 Slot Machines | 54 Jemez Canyon Dam Rd. | www.santaanastar.com |
| Santa Claran Casino – Espanola | 650 Slot Machines | 460 N. Riverside Dr. | www.santaclaran.com |
| Sky City Casino – Acoma | 640 Slot Machines | I-40 Exit 102 | www.skycity.com |
| Taos Mountain Casino – Taos | 200 Slot Machines | 700 Veterans Hwy | www.taosmountaincasino.com |
| Wild Horse Casino – Dulce | 190 Slot Machines | 13603 US-64 | www.apachenugget.com |
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.
| Michigan Regulated Gambling | |
|---|---|
| Racing | 1946 |
| Casinos | 1995 |
| Lottery | 1995 |
| Bingo | 2009 |
New Mexico Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Casino Gambling In New Mexico
Yes. It has been since 1946.
Yes. There are 26 casinos in the state.
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.
Gambling In New Mexico Age
Tribal casinos pay the state nine percent on qualified games. The racinos have an effective tax rate of 46.25 percent on all games.
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.
New Mexico’s smoking ban exempts casinos.
Is betting on horses over the Internet legal in New Mexico?
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.