Introduction to New Mexico Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
New Mexico slot machine casino gambling currently consists of 22 tribal casinos with an additional 5 pari-mutuel wagering racinos. New Mexico has only 2.09 million residents, so their casino-to-resident ratio is significantly higher than any other U.S. state.
Casino style gaming is permitted by tribal-state compacts with the 25 tribes and pueblos of New Mexico. Slot machines are permitted by license only to the tribal casinos, licensed racetracks, and in certain licensed non-profit organizations.
Tribes are not required to publicly provide slot machine payout return percentages, but all electronic gaming machines are required to return a minimum of 80%.
Pari-mutuel wagering has been legal since the 1930s, having a thriving industry until the late 1980s when Texas legalized pari-mutuel wagering. However, recovery and stability occurred when New Mexico legalized offering slot machines in these racinos.
State gaming regulations allow slot machine payout returns to be from 80% to 96% but, as with tribal casino payout returns, are not available publicly.
This post continues the weekly blog series “Slot Machine Casino Gambling, State-By-State“, a year-long online resource project dedicated to guiding slot machine gambling enthusiasts to success.
Keep Reading … or Listen Instead!
Did you know I have a podcast? I do! Subscribe to the Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Android | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | Tune-In | SoundCloud | RSS.
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in New Mexico*
The legal age for gambling at tribal casinos is 21, but the minimum legal age is 18 for the lottery and at pari-mutuel racinos.
From the 1930s until mid-1990, New Mexico state regulations only allowed horse race wagering at pari-mutuel facilities. However, thirteen identical state-tribal gaming compacts from different tribes was negotiated and eventually approved, after various delays, in 1995.
That same year, New Mexico’s Governor Gary Johnson approved a state lottery.
New Mexico has 25 federally-recognized American Indian tribes or pueblos. Each tribe is now associated with at least one Indian casino in New Mexico.
The original state-tribal compacts from 1995 have since been amended several times, in part to include a requirement that the tribal casino report a net win amount.
These compacts currently expire in 2037.
By the terms of these state-tribal compacts, all electronic gaming machines are required to have a minimum payout return of 80%. However, tribes are not required to publicly provide slot machine payout return percentages.
Each of New Mexico’s racinos may legally have up to 750 gaming machines, including 600 of their own and 150 leased for another pari-mutuel facility. The State of New Mexico must be paid 26% of the Net Take in monthly gaming taxes.
State gaming regulations allow slot machine payout returns to be from 80% to 96% but, as with tribal casino payout returns, are not available publicly.
By statute, 20% of the Net Take from racino gaming machines must go to horsemen’s purses, which has been a significant amount: In fiscal year 2014, over $50M was added to horsemen’s purses from gaming revenues.
In addition, a thriving charitable gaming industry exists in New Mexico, where dozens of non-profit organizations offer electronic gaming machines legal under state gaming regulations for slot machines similar to those found at New Mexico racinos.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in New Mexico
Privately owning a slot machine has only recently become available. Legal restrictions on obtaining it are highly limited to the following terms:
- It must be purchased from a distributor or manufacturer licensed to distribute and manufacture slot machines in New Mexico.
- Only such New Mexico licensed distributors and manufacturers may transport gaming machines in New Mexico.
- The homeowner may not make a profit from having the slot machine.
- Persons who play on the machine can play for winnings only.
- The homeowner may not offer the slot machine for resale without a license.
- The homeowner may not transport a slot machine from one location to another without a license.
- A homeowner charging a fee to play or keeping a portion of monies for any reason would be commercial gambling which, without a gambling license, is a felony.
As an exception, an antique gambling device may be legally owned without restriction, provided it was manufactured prior to 1970 as well as is not used in gambling.
Gaming Control Board in New Mexico
The New Mexico Gaming Control Board was established via state legislation in 1997. According to their About webpage,
“The agency is tasked with the responsibility for regulating legalized gaming at New Mexico’s licensed racetracks, veteran and fraternal organizations. In addition, the agency is responsible for investigating and enforcing violations of the laws and regulations that prohibit illegal gambling activities in the state, and monitor New Mexico’s tribal gaming compacts through the appointment of a state gaming representative.”
Its Mission Statement reads:
“To uphold the integrity of gaming regulations at licensed racetracks and nonprofit organizations, and to monitor tribal gaming activity in the state. The Gaming Control Board qualifies gaming venues through a rigorous licensing and certification process designed to ensure a fair and honest gaming environment, while recognizing the importance of gaming tax revenue to the state economy.”
The website for the New Mexico Gaming Control Board is highly comprehensive as well as easy to navigate.
However, state gaming regulations do not require the report of payout returns from racinos, nor do state-tribal compacts require them from tribes/pueblos, so monthly statistics are not publicly available.
Casinos in New Mexico
The largest casino in New Mexico is the Sandia Resort and Casino. It has 2,300 gaming machines on its casino floor as well as offering a golf course. The second largest is Santa Ana Star Casino, having 1,400 gaming machines and 25 table games.
The 27 tribal casinos and pari-mutuel wagering racinos with slot machines in New Mexico, along with their city and tribe/pueblo, are listed below. Click this complete listing for New Mexico slot machine casino gambling individual website links.
- Apache Nugget Travel Center and Casino in Dulce, a tribal casino for the Jicarilla Apache Tribe.
- Black Mesa Casino (formerly Nambe Falls Casino) in Algodones, a tribal casino for the San Felipe Pueblo.
- Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Santa Fe, a tribal casino for the Pojoaque Pueblo.
- Camel Rock Casino in Santa Fe, a tribal casino for the Tesuque Pueblo.
- Casino Apache Travel Center in Ruidoso, a tribal casino for the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
- Cities of Gold Casino Hotel in Santa Fe, a tribal casino for the Pojoaque Pueblo.
- Dancing Eagle Casino and RV Park in Casa Blanca, a tribal casino for the Laguna Pueblo.
- The Downs Racetrack and Casino in Albuquerque, a pari-mutuel racino.
- Fire Rock Casino in Church Rock, a tribal casino for the Navajo Nation.
- Flowing Water Casino in Shiprock, a tribal casino for the Navajo Nation.
- Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino Apache in Mescalero, a tribal casino for the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
- Isleta Resort Casino in Albuquerque, a tribal casino for the Isleta Pueblo.
- Northern Edge Casino in Fruitland, a tribal casino for the Navajo Nation.
- Ohkay Casino Resort in Ohkay Owingeh, a tribal casino for Ohkay Owingeh, a tribe formerly called the San Juan Pueblo.
- Palace West Casino in Albuquerque, a tribal casino for the Isleta Pueblo.
- Route 66 Casino Express in Albuquerque, a tribal casino for the Laguna Pueblo.
- Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque, a tribal casino for the Laguna Pueblo.
- Ruidoso Downs & Billy The Kid Casino in Ruidoso Downs, a pari-mutuel racino.
- Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, a tribal casino for the Sandia Pueblo.
- Santa Ana Star Casino in Santa Ana Pueblo, a tribal casino for the Santa Ana Pueblo.
- Santa Claran Hotel Casino in Espanola, a tribal casino for the Santa Clara Pueblo.
- Sky City Casino Hotel in Acoma, a tribal casino for the Acoma Pueblo.
- Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in Sunland Park, a pari-mutuel racino.
- SunRay Park and Casino in Farmington, a pari-mutuel racino.
- Taos Mountain Casino in Taos, a tribal casino for the Taos Pueblo.
- Wild Horse Casino & Hotel in Dulce, a tribal casino for the Jicarilla Apache Tribe.
- Zia Park Race Track & Black Gold Casino in Hobbs, a pari-mutuel racino.
Summary of New Mexico Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
New Mexico slot machine casino gambling currently consists of 27 tribal casinos and pari-mutuel wagering racinos. All have slots. Ownership of slot machines is possible, but only under relatively highly restricted licensing conditions.
Class III gaming is permitted at tribal casinos and regulated through tribal-state compacts set to expire in 2037. Slot machines are permitted by state regulations at licensed racetracks as well as licensed non-profit organizations.
Tribes are not required to publicly provide payout return percentages for electronic gaming machines, but are required to return a minimum of 80%. State gaming regulations allow slot machine payout returns to be from 80% to 96% but, as with tribal casino payout returns, are not available publicly.
Professor Slots Video on New Mexico Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2017
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Series: Online Resource: State-By-State Slots Gambling Summaries – Now in its second year, this series is an online resource dedicated to slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts. It provides 56 weekly, detailed gambling summarizes covering each U.S. state, territory, and the federal district to capture dynamic changes occurring of late in the U.S. gaming/gambling industry specific to slots play.
- Previous: New Jersey Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018 – New Jersey slot machine casino gambling currently consists of 7 casinos located in Atlantic City, with another casino opening in late May 2018. New Jersey’s gambling laws are the most permissive in the U.S. New Jersey state gaming regulations require that all slot machines have a minimum payout return of at least 83%.
- Next: New York Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018 – New York slot machine casino gambling currently consists of 23 casinos. Video Lottery Terminals slot machines at Class III tribal casinos are required to have a minimum payout return of 92%. Actual payout returns for slot machines at commercial casinos and racinos are publicly reported for each 4-month fiscal quarter.