Legal Sports Betting For New Mexico Residents
New Mexico sports bettors have long been in the habit of simply legging it across the Mojave to place their wagers in Sin City just over the border, but this is no longer necessary. Ever since the federal government’s sports betting ban – the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992) – was overturned by the Supreme Court in May 2018, each state in the US has had their rights restored to regulate and oversee their own sports wagering industries. New Mexico is unique among them, however, as sports wagering was automatically legal the moment PASPA was struck down, thanks to the state’s tribal gaming compacts.
As such, the tribal Santa Ana Star casino just outside Albuquerque became the first sports wagering site in NM without any further congressional action. In New Mexico, sports betting is unambiguously and non-controversially part of the Class III tribal gaming definition, which is 100% legally binding. Since the Star started taking sports wagers of its own volition, more NM tribal casinos have joined them in offering sports wagering. That said, these facilities can only accept wagers on their immediate premises, and online and mobile sports betting remains against the law in New Mexico. If you wish to wager online in NM, you will have to use offshore legal online sports betting to do so safely and legally for the foreseeable future.
Yes, online sports betting is legal in New Mexico, provided you use an offshore sports wagering website. New Mexico residents will find that they are free and clear to place bets at the online sportsbook of their choice. For fully legal New Mexico sports betting sites, residents will have to use online sportsbooks located in other countries. This is due to several federal laws, though the primary law that prevented NM from having its own sports betting industry – the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, or PASPA – has finally been overturned by the US Supreme Court (2018). This means that, in the future, NM could have legal online sports betting within its borders. However, there is no indication that the state legislature has considered instituting any such laws at this time.
The remaining federal laws that impact access to NM sports betting websites are the Federal Wire Act (1961) and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). However, neither of these laws focuses on the individual player, instead going after domestic gambling operators and US-based financial institutions, respectively. These laws should not have much effect on your plans to wager legally at online sportsbooks that serve NM residents from overseas.
Sports Betting Laws in New Mexico
We have scoured the New Mexico penal code from top to bottom, and you will be happy to know that there are no sports betting laws in New Mexico. In addition to this, the state government has yet to address the issue of online gambling, either. Remember, NM tribal casino operators can offer sports wagering specifically because it is not barred by state law and is thus implied to be within the scope of Class III gaming as defined by the state. Because of this, we have determined that legal online New Mexico sports betting can be done under current state laws at online sportsbooks. These books will have to be based overseas, though, to remain within the legal confines of federal law. Fortunately, Internet-based offshore sportsbooks are incredibly safe to use.
The simple answer to this question is that no, you will not go to jail for online sports betting in New Mexico. Since there are no laws to prevent online gambling or sports betting in the state, there is no basis for criminal charges. Furthermore, there has been no history of even a single arrest in the state of New Mexico for betting on sports online. Believe us when we say that online, offshore sportsbooks constitute the best form of legal New Mexico sports betting.
Bovada is the one sportsbook we have always relied on for our own gaming needs, as they offer some of the best betting options around. Bovada gives their players access to betting lines covering every possible sport, with various bet types also available. Straight wagers are available to be placed on the money lines, spreads, total scores and more, but you will also be able to wager on parlays, props and pleasers/teasers.
BetOnline's generosity is unrivaled in the online sports betting industry. Between their initial sign up bonuses and their valuable odds, BetOnline hands out more money than most other betting sites. BetOnline's initial deposit bonus offers up to $1000 in free-play perks, matched at a rate of 50% (promo code: “BOL1000”). You can take this money and put it towards most of their betting lines, of which there are many, with thousands of different sports wagers available to NM residents every single day.
Betting on your favorite sports teams like the Lobos, Suns, and Golden Knights just got a whole lot easier for players. Instead of having to find the closest local sportsbook, all players have to do now is sign up for an online sportsbook like SportsBetting. The betting odds are much better and there are more prop bets here for players to put great parlay bets together to make some serious money! The banking methods are here for players to choose from and have bonuses added on to them. SportsBetting makes it easy for players once they sign up.
There were three federal laws that impacted legal sports betting in New Mexico, though only two now remain. The most destructive, restrictive law, PASPA, has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, so it is no longer applicable. For historical considerations, PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (1992), prevented states from regulating sports betting on their own. Without regulatory authority, there could be no legal state-licensed sportsbooks anywhere but Nevada, essentially giving Las Vegas a sports betting monopoly. Thankfully, all states – including NM – may now institute sports betting as they see fit.
One of the two remaining federal laws that impact legal New Mexico sports betting is the Interstate Wire Act of 1961. This law states that no one can take a wager that is placed over a line of communication between states. This prevents wagers from crossing state lines and prevents someone in New Mexico from using a sportsbook based in Nevada. The Wire Act does not criminalize the act of betting on sports. Rather, it merely limits where it can be done.
The second existing sports betting law at the federal level is called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or the UIGEA. This 2006 law prevents financial institutions based in the US from knowingly processing gambling transactions by US residents. While the banking side of this law can be carried out, the UIGEA does not have the authority to prevent overseas sportsbooks from taking wagers from US bettors. Essentially, the UIGEA is just a scary-sounding banking regulation that occasionally declines credit card deposits at legal New Mexico sports betting sites.
In New Mexico, legal sports betting can be done once you’ve reached the age of 21. In fact, gambling of any kind in New Mexico can only be done once you turn 21. Make sure that when you sign up for a legal New Mexico sports betting site, you have the proper proof of age.
That said, most online books serving NM residents only require you to be 18 or older. This means that gambling under the age of 21 isn’t illegal. Indeed, gambling under the age of 18 isn’t illegal, either. However, if you sign up at overseas sportsbooks while younger than 18, you will likely have all your funds confiscated and your account permanently banned. It’s definitely not worth the risk!
Yes, you can bet on sports from a mobile device in New Mexico. Almost all online sportsbooks have created a corresponding mobile site that allows you to do everything you would on the computer directly from your phone or tablet. Using a mobile betting site sometimes comes with extra bonuses, depending on the sportsbook you use. All of the legal New Mexico sports betting sites recommended on this page have mobile betting sites and mobile betting bonuses, so be sure to check them out.
How Do I Know if a Sportsbook Accepts Bets from New Mexico?
You will be able to tell if a book accepts New Mexico residents by heading to its “About” page. When you get there, check to see if the book accepts US bettors. If it does, it means you’ve successfully found a legal New Mexico sports betting site. This is because any sportsbook on the Internet that legally takes US bets will take bets from New Mexico citizens.
What Should New Mexico Residents Look For In An Online Sportsbook?
Residents should look for a legal New Mexico sports betting site with a good reputation, a large selection of wager types, and high-end security features. In addition to this, since online books are competing for your business, look for a book with good promotional offers. A generous welcome bonus, free play credits or reduced juice, and deposit bonuses are good things to look for in a legal New Mexico sports betting site.
Do All Sportsbooks Have The Same Bonuses?
No, not every online sportsbook has the same bonuses. Most will offer a welcome bonus, but only the best go beyond that. Some books will offer free play credits for trying out new features like live betting or mobile betting. Others will offer reduced juice on certain moneylines. A full list of sportsbook bonuses can be found on the “Promotions” page of the book you’re interested in joining.
- University of New Mexico
- New Mexico State University