New Mexico Online Sports Betting Guide 2024
Curious about New Mexico sports betting laws? The Land of Enchantment doesn’t usually get much attention for its betting scene, so it’s expected to ask questions like is online sports betting legal in New Mexico?
Understanding the regulations surrounding New Mexico’s betting industry is essential if you live in New Mexico or are planning to visit the state soon and desire to place sports bets.
On this page, we will provide comprehensive answers to your questions about legal sports betting in Mexico. You will also learn about the licensed sportsbooks operating in the jurisdiction and how to maximize your betting strategy in the heart of the American Southwest. Let’s go!
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Find out if online sports betting is currently legal in New Mexico.
- Learn how to place a sports bet at retail sportsbooks in New Mexico.
- Discover the best strategies to maximize your New Mexico betting experience.
- Learn about the most popular sports teams for betting in New Mexico.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in New Mexico?
No, online sports betting is not legal in New Mexico. While sports betting is legalized in the state, it’s retail only. You can only place sports bets at tribal casino sportsbooks in the state.
New Mexico is the sixth US state to legally accept a sports bet. However, unlike many other US states where sports betting is legal, New Mexico does not have established legal frameworks or regulations for retail sports betting or online wagering.
How is this possible, you ask? In 1988, the New Mexico government signed a compact with its Native American tribes, allowing them to offer all forms of Class III gaming, including sports betting.
After the US Supreme Court invalidated PASPA in 2018, the tribes started offering sports betting legally at their casinos. Unfortunately, the compact does not cover mobile wagering, so you won’t find any legal online betting app available in New Mexico.
Our Alternative to Online Sportsbooks in New Mexico: Sweepstakes Bookmakers
With the strong opposition facing gambling expansion in New Mexico, it is uncertain when the state will legalize sports betting on mobile. But you don’t have to wait until then!
We recommend playing at sports sweepstakes for a similar experience to traditional online sportsbooks. A sweepstake bookmaker is a social online sportsbook that allows you to make sports betting picks and predictions and win cash prizes and other rewards.
Here are our two top legal sweepstakes sportsbooks in New Mexico.
Fliff
Through its rewarding contests and games, Fliff gives you the perfect opportunity to test your sports knowledge and win exciting rewards. Launched in 2023, Fliff has quickly risen through the ranks to become a player favorite in New Mexico.
You can make picks on various sports on the platform, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, soccer, and more. Fliff also features a wide range of betting options similar to a sportsbook, including moneyline, point spreads, prop bets, and over/under.
Furthermore, Fliff has a fantastic reward system where you can earn Fliff Coins and Fliff Cash for making the correct predictions or winning a contest. You can also claim the two tokens by completing daily challenges and referring friends. You can use Fliff Coins to enter contests and play games, while Fliff Cash can be redeemed for real cash prizes.
Rebet
Rebet is also another leading sweepstakes sportsbook that offers you close to a real-money sports betting experience in New Mexico. The platform provides over 60 markets, including professional and collegiate leagues like MLB, NFL, and NCAA.
The app features an attractive color scheme of deep black and orange and is intuitive on mobile devices. Another exciting feature of Rebet is its collection of sports betting-related markets. You can make predictions on sports betting events using various betting options like moneylines, parlays, player props, and even point spread.
When you sign up on the platform and verify your account, Rebet will give you 100 Rebet Coins and 1 Rebet Cash. You also earn these virtual currencies as you check in and engage with the site daily.
How to Bet on Sports in New Mexico?
With sports betting available at a number of tribal New Mexico casinos, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to placing a wager on your favorite team or sport.
Our step-by-step guide below details how to start betting in the Land of Enchantment:
- Visit a Sportsbook at a Tribal Casino: The first step is to locate a tribal casino offering a retail sportsbook near your area. Keep in mind that not all tribal casinos in New Mexico offer sports betting. The last time we checked, there were about six, including:
- Buffalo Thunder Casino in Santa Fe
- Santa Ana Star Casino in Albuquerque
- Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque
- Get a Betting Sheet: Upon entering the sportsbook, you will see the rotation number of odds and lines offered by the sportsbook on large boards or display screens. Check out the options and grab a betting slip from the sportsbook counter or kiosk.
- Fill out your slip: Clearly write or select the game you want to wager on, the type of bet you wish to place, and your betting amount. Thereafter, proceed to the sportsbook staff to submit your sheet. You can also read out your picks to the staff. However, ensure you speak clearly.
- Confirm your ticket: Once the staff have processed and submitted your bet, they will give you a printed ticket as proof of your wager. Ensure you confirm the details on the ticket to see if the staff input the details correctly. Keep the ticket safe, as you will need to present it to the cashier to receive your winnings if your bet wins.
My experience: After submitting my bet, I entertained myself by watching the game on the big HD screens. The energy in the NM sportsbook was electric, and I loved cheering on my team with fellow fans. Win or lose, it was a fun day out. However, I won the bet and went to the cashier with my ticket to collect my winnings.
Popular Sports and Teams in New Mexico Betting Scene
New Mexico is home to major sports collegiate teams, professional squads, and minor league clubs that compete at high levels. Let’s look at some of them below.
| Sport | Team | League | Descrption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football Basketball Baseball Tennis | University of New Mexico Lobos (college) | NCAA Division 1 (Mountain West Conference) | Go Lobos! One of the most popular teams in NM, the Lobos’ mens’ basketball team had an undefeated run in 2022. |
| Football Basketball Volleyball Baseball Softball | New Mexico State Aggies (college) | NCAA Division 1 (South Eastern Conference) | In the opening weekend of the 2024 season, the Aggies set the record for the largest opening weekend in NM State baseball history. |
| Soccer | New Mexico United | USL Championship | NMU, founded June 6, 2018, plays at Isotopes Park (13,500 capacity) and often sells out home games. |
| Ice Hockey | New Mexico Ice Wolves | North American Hockey League’s South Division | a Tier II junior ice hockey team, the Wolves finished 1st of 8 in the 2023-24 season. |
The Impact of Local Teams on Sports Betting
With teams like the Lobos and the Aggies consistently drawing near-sold-out crowds for their home games, it is clear that New Mexicans love and support their local sports club. However, this love affair is tempered by laws that prohibit wagering on in-state college sports teams.
Whether they are playing home or away, New Mexicans are not permitted to wager on their college teams within state lines. As a result, the popularity of these college sports teams in New Mexico has a limited impact on the sports betting choices of the state’s residents.
However, New Mexico United and New Mexico Ice Wolves offer NM sports fans alternative options for betting on local teams. On-field and off-field happenings in these teams, such as winning streaks, injuries, trades, and rivalries, can influence the wagering decisions of the state’s bettors.
Upcoming Events
From the high-flying dunks of the Lobos to the gridiron heroics of the Aggies, New Mexico state’s teams’ games are always action-packed. In this section, we will keep you updated about upcoming sports events involving New Mexico’s local teams. Bookmark this page!
Are There More Gambling Options in New Mexico?
You are in luck if you seek alternative betting options to sports wagering. New Mexico has various forms of gambling available to residents and visitors.
Here are some of them:
- Casino: Casino gambling had long been legalized before sports betting in New Mexico. The tribal casinos in the state offer various games, including slot machines, poker, and table games.
- Horse Racing: You can watch and wager on live horse racing events at various tracks in the state, including Sunland Park and the Ruidoso Downs at Albuquerque.
- Lottery: You can also buy tickets for popular national lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions in the state. According to the New Mexico Lottery Authority, the largest lottery win in New Mexico was a $206.9 million Powerball ticket sold on September 27, 2008. Who knows, you may be the next big lucky winner.
Maximizing Your Bets
If you want to consistently approach the cashier with winning tickets, there are some tips you need to adopt while betting on sports in the state of New Mexico. Let’s look at the most important ones below:
Tips and Strategies for New Mexico Bettors
By mastering the strategies below, you will be able to increase your chances of success with retail sportsbooks in New Mexico and stay ahead of the curve when the state expands its sports betting market.
- Research: Don’t be one of those NM bettors who wager on a team because of their passion for the club. Instead, research the teams, their statistics, head-to-head, and the latest news to make informed decisions. While the analysis doesn’t guarantee a win, it significantly increases your chance of making a correct bet.
- Understand the Betting Menu: Familiarize yourself with the betting offerings of the sports book, such as point spreads, moneyline, and over/under. If you want to know how to be better at sports betting, it’s vital to understand the different types of bets and how they work.
- Take Advantage of Promotions: Not many bettors know it, but retail sportsbooks also offer promotions. Be sure to ask the staff about it next time you are at a sportsbook in New Mexico, especially if you are a new member.
- Manage your Bankroll: Proper bankroll management is vital when gambling in New Mexico. Please note that casinos are designed to encourage spending, so you will find other attractions besides the sportsbook. If you are on a tight budget, focus on your mission at the sportsbook. Stay disciplined and stick to your budget. Don’t bet more than you can afford, and avoid chasing losses.
Understanding Taxes and Payouts
As the saying goes, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes,” and when it comes to paying taxes in the US, your sports betting winnings are not exempted.
On the federal level, the IRS considers all gambling wins as fully taxable, including those from retail locations, websites, state lotteries, and other sources. Any money you win from your wagering activity is regarded as income, no matter how small it is.
However, you are only required to pay taxes on sports betting winnings if they exceed $600 or are at least 300 times the amount you wagered. The sportsbook will issue you a Form W-2G, and you must report them on your tax return.
If the payout is $5,000 or more, the sportsbook may withhold federal income tax of 24% of the total.
Remember that even if you don’t receive a tax form, you are still expected to report your winnings. It’s advisable to maintain a record of your betting transactions, including your wins and losses.
→ For more details, visit our guide to learn how sports betting taxes work.
So, Will You Bet from New Mexico Tonight?
While New Mexico does not support online sports betting, the availability of NM retail sportsbooks provides a great alternative for placing different sports wagers in the state. You can bet on your favorite sports or team at several tribal casinos scattered across the jurisdiction.
So what are you waiting for? Betting opportunities await you in the Land of Enchantment! Go get it! Remember to bet responsibly, manage your bankroll adequately, and keep a record of your betting activity.
Want to improve your understanding of sports betting strategies and concepts? Start reading our Sports Betting Education guide.