Gambling in the state of New Mexico is currently deemed not legal by the state government and has been for some time. Online casinos remain illegal despite numerous instances of new legislation legalizing other forms of gambling. New Mexico is very much ahead of the curve in terms of its stance on brick and mortar establishments within the state, however, there continues to be heavy disputes about the stance it should take on the potential introduction of online casinos. Despite some dated opinions from the state government and all its representatives the Land of Enchantment and its ‘Wild West’ mentality could lead to a very sudden change in the legislation which prevents the introduction of online gambling within the state.

Available Casino Games in New Mexico

The current environment of online casinos is still very much restricted within the state of New Mexico, residents of the state are still able to access many brick and mortar establishments in the big cities such as Albuquerque, however for those in more rural landscapes the options are fairly narrow and many have to utilize out of state services to gamble. There are many casino games available within the state of New Mexico. Many offshore establishments have rose to prominence among residents and has been able to make a large enough impact on the culture of the state, we will now list the various options available to New Mexico residents.

Biggest State Land-Based Casinos

Like many states New Mexico gambling has a deep and decisive history with within the state and many of them have since become landmarks of the Land of Enchantment with many becoming large attractions for tourists. For example, at many horse and dog tracks establishments known as Racinos are prominent and are purely for gambling on the respective sport but are typically limited in the amount of games that they can offer to the consumer. Due to the sparsely populated landscape of New Mexico many residents find it difficult to find a reliable Brick and mortar establishment to utilize. This is another inconvenience that only strengthens the arguments for an Online casino network to be introduced.

History of Casino Gambling in New Mexico

Despite the fact that there are no legal gambling sites available in the state, off-line gambling still to this day maintains a consistent level of popularity with both urban and rural residents of New Mexico. Many brick and mortar establishments have made a comeback due to previous restrictive legislation being overturned within the state government allowing many communities to thrive with the new addition of commercial casinos. These have helped to boost economic activity within the state of New Mexico, this has helped to build a much more convincing argument to further push for a more expansive gambling industry which would include further formats of gambling including online casinos.

Casino Gambling Age in New Mexico

The current gambling age in the Treasurer state is 21 years, however for the lottery and horse racing the age requirement is 18. Like many other states New Mexico has maintained a leveled gambling age since its legalization in the 1900s. Due to the rigid constitution of the state it makes the age for gambling very difficult to change. Many online gambling networks have strict age verification setups in place which require valid ID and verification to allow access to any customers wishing to gamble online. Advertising is also closely monitored to prevent them from encouraging minors from attempting to gamble.

• Online Casino Age
  Online Casinos are heavily prohibited within the state of New Mexico; however, residents must be 21 years of age if they wish to access online casinos in jurisdictions where it has been legalized.
• Alcohol Age
  While the consumption of Alcohol is a large part of many rural and urban communities within the state, all residents must be 21 years of age to legally consume alcohol.
• Weed Age
  There is no specific age for cannabis as it is legal for medical purposes but remains illegal for recreational uses for all residents since 1929.

Responsible Gambling and Addiction Prevention

Currently there are a few organizations and charities which support those who suffer from gambling addiction. However, there is no government official support for those dealing with addiction. Advertising within the state is heavily regulated by the local government to ensure there is no illicit promotion of gambling to minors within the state. Gambling addiction rates within New Mexico have heavily dropped in recent decades to heavy regulation of advertising and the promotion of responsible advertising.

Can I Play Without Deposit?

Most casinos within the state of New Mexico will not allow customers to play in their establishments without the payment of a deposit. Some brick and mortar establishments use the fact that they don’t require deposits as a unique selling point for their business to bring in more customers. Many establishments within a free market feel the need to change their regulations to allow a no deposit rule as a way to increase their market share and encourage more customers to use their facilities. However, alongside many other states the majority of casinos will require a deposit to play.

Upcoming Casino Regulation and Expected Changes

Currently there is no impending change to the laws to allow online casinos networks to be established within New Mexico. Due to some states around the US very recently legalizing online casinos, this could lead to an outcry from residents to overturn previous legislation. However, to form a convincing argument for this idea would be hard. Many residents use off shore services and rural communities across the state have wide access to brick and mortar establishments, as well as the many racing tracks across the state providing another framework for residents to gamble responsibly. Due to its rigid legislation, the State of New Mexico is very unlikely to legalize online casinos in the near future. If, however, you’re interested in learning what the legal online gambling market could look like one day, check out our guide to Pennsylvania casino sites.

Casino Guides for Nearby States

• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• Connecticut