New Mexico Gambling
FAQ / Q&A -- History -- Regulation -- Land Based Casinos -- Fun Facts
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New Mexico Online Casinos
Regulation and legality of New York online gambling
Online gambling is illegal in New Mexico. According to the NM Gaming Control Board (NMGCB), internet gambling/wagering, as they call it, is not in any way approved, endorsed, or sanctioned by the NMGCB. What they’re doing is basically stating that the state currently doesn’t allow any sort of new or existing establishment to offer online services.
According to New Mexico laws, all forms of gambling outside the 24 Tribal casinos, are deemed illegal. This is a bit paradoxical, as the law also states that horse and greyhound racing, skill games, and DFS are all legal in online form. Because there is no article that specifically singles out casino games, and existing laws contradict themselves, the situation is quite unclear.
What about punishments for online gambling? Well, if you’re a first-time offender, you’ll most likely get slapped with a petty misdemeanor. For repeat offenses, you might be subject to a $500 fine. However, as important it is to know the laws, it’s also worth mentioning that they’re NEVER enforced.
No, seriously, not a single person has gotten in trouble for playing at New Mexico online casinos. There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, both legislators and law enforcement know that people love playing casino games online, and that it’s a growing trend. They just don’t have the resources to tackle that which they deem a ‘social problem.’
Secondly, there is the jurisdiction loophole. You see, New Mexico authorities have the legal right to prosecute anyone and any organization within state lines. While this allows them to break up illegal gambling syndicates, it also creates a way for people to enjoy casino games at a particular location - offshore sites.
As these online casinos are based and licensed abroad, the NMGCB has its hands effectively tied. Also, there is no way for any regulatory body to forbid offshore sites from accepting players from NM. Thus, a semi-clandestine online casino market has emerged in this state.
While some sites will claim that all offshore casinos are unsafe, this isn’t true. All you have to do is pick a country with a strict regulatory body and check out online reviews. Fraudulent casinos are almost nonexistent nowadays, but you should always put security first.
Online gaming is not specifically addressed by the New Mexico legislation. That’s not surprising, considering the fact that the situation is exactly, or approximately, the same in the majority of the States. The activity is not proclaimed illegal, which doesn’t automatically make it legal, or does it? One thing is certain - the New Mexico Gaming Control Board is against online gaming. On its website, the Gaming Control Board reminds that ‘the State of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Gaming Control Board do not regulate, license, control or in any way sanction, endorse or approve any Internet or on-line gambling, betting activity, wagering or any aspect thereof. Any statement, reference or opinion to the contrary is wrong.’
Gambling history in New Mexico
Not much is known about gambling activities in New Mexico territory before the 1940s. Either the operations were super-quiet or history had very little to report. Many consider the beginning of modern New Mexico history the opening of the La Mesa Park and legalization of horse race betting in 1946. Pari-mutuel betting on horse races was the only regulated market in the Land of Enchantment for decades. Then, things began to heat up in the early 90s. After the passing of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, governor Bruce King's task force offered Class II casino compact to Native American tribes, but they refused it. It was Governor Gary Johnson that signed casino agreements with 13 tribes and approved the state lottery in 1995.
Johnson was the first to buy a lottery ticket when they went on sale the next year. During the early 2000s, the tribes and the state went into legal disputed about tribal casinos not paying the percentage of gambling revenue to the state. New compacts were eventually signed that would settle the disputes and allows for the tribal casino industry to flourish. In 2011, commercial casinos were allowed on non-tribal lands, extending the choices a bit further. However, this is as far as New Mexico went with the development of regulated gambling. Apart from discussions about iGaming legalization, the recent history of the Land of Enchantment was not eventful when it comes to updates on gaming. Lottery remains widely popular, with all the proceeds going into education funds and for good cause.
Land based casinos & real money slots
Considering the state’s population of a little over 2 million, New Mexico has a huge number of casinos within its borders. To be precise, there are over 20 casinos (tribal and commercial) and 5 racino venues (racetrack facilities allowed to offer slot machines).
Since the majority of the population lives in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas, that’s where you’ll find most casinos. Some casino establishments are strategically located on the borders with Texas, due to the neighboring state’s lack of casino gaming and a large population that needs to be served. Such venues are the Sunland and Zia Park racinos, for example.
New Mexico casinos affiliated with Indian Tribes offer varied assortments of table games and electronic gaming machines. Most of them are open 24/7.
Electronic gaming machines at casinos, racetracks and fraternal/veterans clubs must return a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 96% under valid gaming regulations. Those living in the Albuquerque area can pay a visit to casinos such as Sandia, Palace West, Downs Racetrack, Isleta, and Casino Express. Sandia Resort & Casino occupies 65,000 square feet and offers over 2,300 unique slot machines, live bingo and 33 tables for card games like poker and blackjack, along with hotel accommodation, luxurious spa and an 18-hole golf course.
Isleta Casino & Resort stretches across 30,000 square feet; it has over 1,800 slot machines and more than 25 table games (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker).
More notable venues include Buffalo Thunder Resort in Santa Fe with roughly 1,200 slot machines on offer, Santa Ana Star in Bernalillo with 1,450 slots and Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque offering 1,700 electronic gaming machines. Ruidoso Downs and Sunland Park are popular racinos which offer live racing, off-track bets, slots, video poker and electronic table games.
Neighbouring States: Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
What’s the minimum age for gambling online in NM?
21. Even though there is no legally imposed age for online casinos, we think that going by this number will be your best bet to stay out of trouble. Brick and mortar venues have the same limit, which makes it a guarantee that you won’t get in trouble.
In states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the limits are the same for land-based and online gaming. This should be enough for you to be sure that you’re taking a risk-averse approach.
Which games can you play at New Mexico casino sites?
When it comes to the offers of most NM online casinos, you can expect to see the most popular games on almost every site. This is normal, as operators love to jump on trends and offer bonuses for a game that’s particularly popping at that specific time.
Blackjack and poker still reign supreme amongst New Mexico players, with roulette also having a considerable ‘fandom’.
Are live dealer games available?
Yes, New Mexico online casinos have a live casino section in most cases. Other than live dealer variants of popular table games, you will also find many interesting RNG hybrids that look like game shows. The genre is expanding rapidly.
Which payment methods are offered at New Mexico online casinos?
In New Mexico, players use a variety of options that we see in other states, as well. The most popular method is credit/debit cards. Everyone has one and they’re famously easy to connect to your casino account.
eWallets are on the rise, thanks to the success of PayPal. However, other brands such as Skrill, Klarna, and Neteller have emerged as viable contenders.
For those that value security and anonymity above everything else, cryptos are the way to go. If you never want to risk your transactions being manipulated, deposit, and withdraw with Bitcoin and similar currencies.
Do casino sites in NM pay withdrawals right away?
In most cases, yes. However, there are some sites that request additional proof of identity before giving your request the green light. If there isn’t such a policy in place, the casino will send the withdrawal almost immediately.
Even though it’s sent right away, the receiving platform (bank, eWallet, crypto wallet) may take some time to process the transaction. The waiting time depends on the payment method you’re using.
eWallets are the fastest, with standardized instant transfers. Second place goes to cryptos, with the possibility to see your money in 15-60 minutes. Other than these two methods, everything else requires a multi-day wait. Cards take 3-5 days, ACH 4-5, and wire transfers 5-7.
Fun Facts about New Mexico
- The very first atomic bomb was detonated in the desert sands of the Jornada del Muerto in New Mexico near Alamogordo. This happened in July 1945, only a few weeks before one just like it was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The code name of the bomb was Trinity. Now a National Historic Site, the Trinity Site is located on the White Sands Missile Range.
- Around 75% of New Mexico’s roads are unpaved. New Mexico is the fifth largest state in the United States and paved roads are too expensive. Gravel and rutted dirt routes became common in the Land of Enchantment.
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