Online Sports Betting in New Mexico
Published: | Updated:Known for its vast desert landscapes and scenic mountains, New Mexico is an aesthetically stunning and fascinating state. This southwestern United States is full of rich Native American history and culture, as well as many famous historical landmarks. From Old West outlaws to ancient civilizations and dinosaurs, New Mexico is home to everything you’d expect and more. You can find rare gypsum fields, fully immersive art experiences, and the world’s largest enchilada!
Known as the “Land of Enchantment,” NM has a history dating back… way back. Home to 23 tribes of Native Americans, the state was once known as “Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico.” Infamous gunslinger Doc Holliday once had a popular saloon in the 47th of the United States too.
At the forefront of art and culinary scenes, New Mexico is well known for both food and design. At the forefront of immersive art exhibits, there are endless things to do in NM. With over 50 wineries in the state, along with a reputation for the best Chile peppers in the country, you’ll be able to enjoy them with both your eyes and your tastebuds.
New Mexico is also home to a one-of-a-kind landmark. The four corners monument is the only quadripoint in the United States – an area where four distinct US states meet. New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona are all accessible within one footstep of each other.
Sports Betting in New Mexico
New Mexico’s sports betting situation remains a unique legal situation. There are five locations offering retail sports betting in New Mexico, and each sportsbook is in one of New Mexico’s tribal casinos.
However, New Mexico does not permit legal sports betting anywhere other than those tribal casinos. With genuinely unusual contractual agreements in place, the tribes are able to offer sports betting on tribal lands due to language in their compacts with the state. Unlike other states that went through complex committee hearings and legislative discussions with voter approval, NM’s sports betting is based solely on tribal compacts.
With such a broad definition surrounding the types of games that are legal, the tribes opted to move forward with on-site sports betting. The last legislative action to make non-tribal sports betting options legal occurred in 2021. It remains highly unlikely that anything new will change for sports betting at a non-tribal level in the near future.
The five tribal casinos that do offer sports betting in New Mexico are listed below.
- Buffalo Thunder Casino
- Inn of the Mountain Gods
- Isleta Resort and Casino
- Route 66 Casino
- Santa Ana Star Casino
Fun Facts
- The popular television series Breaking Bad was filmed, in part, in New Mexico. The Breaking Bad house had to install fencing around it due to pizzas being thrown on the roof. If you haven’t seen Breaking Bad yet and are angry at the spoilers, you’ve had enough time to watch it.
- New Mexico is actually home to a second “Las Vegas.” Unlike the association with The Strip and glitz/glam/gambling, this small city has a much bigger association with outlaws. In the late 1800s, the city was effectively lawless, filled with murderers, robbers, thieves, gamblers, gunmen, vagrants, and tramps. Notorious Wild West outlaws such as Doc Holliday, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and Wyatt Earp called Las Vegas, New Mexico home.
- Santa Fe is both the oldest and highest state capital in the entire country.
- New Mexico is home to one of the most haunted places in the entire country – the revered Dawson Cemetery. Spooky.
- It is illegal to gamble on camel and ostrich racing, both wildly popular spectator events in New Mexico.
- It is illegal to sing, render or play “The Star-Spangled Banner” or “Oh Fair New Mexico” in any public place within the state except as an entire or separate composition or number. Anyone who goes against this edict is guilty of a petty misdemeanor which is punishable by a jail term of fewer than six months and/or a fine of up to $500.
Popular Sports in New Mexico & Professional Sports Teams
New Mexico is not home to any major professional sports teams. The population of the state simply isn’t large enough to draw interest from major American sports leagues like the MLB, NBA, NFL, or NHL. The closest thing New Mexicans have to a “pro team” is the Triple-A affiliate of Colorado Rockies (MLB). Their affiliate team is the Albuquerque Isotopes.
From a sports fandom perspective, the following leagues are likely to draw fans to the teams you can find below.
- NFL: Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys
- NBA: Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets
- NHL: Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars
- MLB: Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks
New Mexico is also home to two universities featuring Division 1 athletic programs. Both the University of New Mexico (Lobos) and New Mexico State (Aggies) have relatively successful sports teams.
Famous Athletes or Celebrities
- Ronnie Lott: a member of both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ronnie Lott finished his NFL career as a 4x Super Bowl Champion, 8x First-Team All-Pro, and 10x Pro Bowler. One of the most feared defensive backs of all time, Lott had the tip of his left pinky finger amputated during the 1985 season. The reason? A bone graft surgery would not have allowed him to start the 1986 season on time.
- Brian Urlacher: a member of the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Urlacher was both the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Player of the Year during his career. A 4x First-Team All-Pro and 8x Pro Bowler, he also starred at the University of New Mexico. His number is retired by the University.
- Colt McCoy: Despite an average pro career, McCoy enjoyed a prolific career in high school and college. A four-year starter at the University of Texas at Austin, he’s the only player in school history to win Team MVP each of his four years at the school. He threw for over 13,000 yards and 112 touchdowns during his time as a Longhorn.
- Holly Holm: an American mixed martial artist, Holm competes in the UFC. She is a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion and the only fighter to have won a boxing world title and an MMA title. She is perhaps best known for her colossal upset over Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, considered to be one of the biggest underdog victories in the history of combat sports. Her career record is 33-2-3 in boxing, 14-1 in kickboxing, and 15-6 in MMA.
More Famous Athletes and Celebrities:
- Ralph Kiner: a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Kiner hit 369 home runs with over 1,000 RBIs during his time in the major leagues. A 6x All-Star and 7x NL Home Run leader, his number is retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Al Unser Sr.: A four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987), Unser Sr. is regarded as one of the greatest American automobile racing drivers of all time. The Unser family (consisting of Bobby, Jerry, Al Sr., and Al Jr.) is considered to be the preeminent family in the sport of car racing.
- Jeff Bezos: An American entrepreneur, media proprietor, and investor, Bezos (born in Albuquerque, NM) is one of the richest men in the entire world. His net worth reportedly exceeds $150B.
- Demi Moore: Moore is a well-regarded American actress with accolades, including Favorite Actress in a Dramatic Motion Picture, Best Actress, and Female Star of the Year.
- Demi Lovato: an American singer, songwriter, and actress, Lovato has been nominated for Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and American Music Awards. She was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2017. Lovato is one of the most followed social media accounts in the world. With over 30 billion streams worldwide, Lovato is one of the defining pop stars of the past decade.
- Neil Patrick Harris: NPH is a prolific American actor, writer, singer, songwriter, producer, and television host. He’s accumulated a variety of accolades, including a Tony Award, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and more.
Responsible Gambling in New Mexico
If you are based in New Mexico, and your gambling seems to get out of control, you can call the National Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700. The call is anonymous, and the phone hotline is available 24/7/365. You can also text the number 1-800-522-4700 or enter the website chat here. Help is always possible from NCPG, even if you have played at an illegal site.
Want to learn more about online casinos and sports gambling? Follow our Online Gamblers Academy to learn how to have fun responsibly!
