They used this as justification to take their first bet, becoming the sixth state in the nation to introduce legal sports betting. In October 2018, an established casino, the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel near Albuquerque, cited a clause in the state’s gaming laws to prove New Mexico sports betting was not technically illegal.
Gambling Laws in New MexicoĪs opposed to many states, which have been actively fighting towards legalizing sports gambling by introducing bill after bill to their respective congresses, New Mexico had a fairly easygoing approach to the matter. Online sports betting in New Mexico has not yet been legalized, but residents can freely enjoy Daily Fantasy gameplay at their leisure. That changed in 1995 when a state lottery was created and tribal casinos were approved. For a long time, horse racing was the only form of gambling available in the state. Though New Mexico has been a slow adopter of gambling throughout its history, it was quick to start accepting sports bets after the U.S.
