New Mexico has one of the most complicated sports betting situations in the U.S. right now. It’s not technically legal, not technically illegal. The grayest of gray.
The ‘Land of Enchantment’, with its population of 2.11million (2020 data) is unquestionably missing out on tax dollars because quite simply it’s in limbo.
Existing agreements with tribal casinos mean getting any new legislation through has so far proved impossible.
New Mexico has no professional sports franchises in the major U.S. sports, though it is close to the likes of Texas and Colorado which have plenty of powerhouses to root for.
Is sports betting legal in New Mexico?
Ok so the simplest answer to this question is ‘define legal’. So not simple at all.
While no legislation has been passed to make sports betting legal in New Mexico, it’s not technically illegal either.
The existing agreements the state has with the tribes (called ‘compacts’) mean the tribes have exclusivity over gaming in state, and share revenues back to the state.
So as of now there is an impasse when anybody tries to put forward a bill to legalize sports betting. The tribes are against it for obvious reasons, and many politicans ditto because it puts all that guaranteed revenue in jeopardy.
Because of this impasse, there is of course no online or mobile betting yet in NM – a massive missed revenue opportunity.
Don’t expect it to be resolved any time soon.
Where can I bet in New Mexico?
Right now, you can only bet on sports in-person at a small number of tribal casinos:
- Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM 87004
- Inn Of The Mountain Gods, Mescalero, NM 88340
- Isleta Resort & Casino, Albuquerque, NM 87105
- Buffalo Thunder Resort Casino, Santa Fe , NM 87506
.As already detailed, there is no online and mobile betting allowed in New Mexico.
Do you need to be resident in New Mexico to bet there?
You do not need to be a resident of NM to bet in tribal casinos. You just need to be on site and of legal age.
What is the legal sports betting age in New Mexico?
You need to be 21 years of age or older to enter tribal casinos in New Mexico and place a bet.
What type of sports bets can I place in New Mexico?
Moneyline: Yes
Point Spread: Yes
Parlay: Yes
Teasers: Yes
Futures: Yes
Over/Under: Yes
Round Robin: Yes
What sports can I bet on in New Mexico?
You can bet on all major sports in New Mexico, including:
Legal sports betting near New Mexico
With the situation in New Mexico pretty frustrating, you might want to look elsewhere for your sports betting fun right now (if you’re not close to a tribal casino).
Most sports betting law is set down based on location when you bet, not residency. This means you can bet in any ‘legal’ state.
With Texas and Oklahoma both still to become legal, the best option close by is Colorado. It has a pretty strong market with both retail and online/mobile betting now legal.
Assuming you’re 21 or older, you can cross the state line into CO, download sportsbook apps, register accounts, deposit funds and bet.
If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can hop on a flight from Albuquerque to Las Vegas for the best sports betting experience around. Non-stop is around 90 minutes. Again, the legal age for sports betting in Nevada is 21.
If you do decide to head out of NM to bet, check out our sign-up offers page first so you can grab all the best promotions and bonuses.
Are offshore sportsbooks legal in New Mexico?
Offshore sportsbooks are not legal in New Mexico – hell, there are no truly ‘legal’ sportsbooks in the state.
But, half-joking aside, offshore companies do not have a license to operate in any U.S. jurisdiction – and it’s highly likely they never will.
This means that their U.S. customers have no protection if they sign up to play. What happens if you want to withdraw your funds and you can’t? A bad situation you don’t ever want.