New Mexico will probably be the last state in America to legalize online casinos. The government has shown no desire to go forward with any bills in favor of online gambling and has closed any that were started.
You can always play on social online casinos, but wagering with real money anywhere online is strictly against the law. Unfortunately, because of these reasons, players in New Mexico shouldn’t expect much as far as regulated online casinos go.
Off-shore casinos still exist but since they are considered illegal, you risk losing any money and information on your online account should the operator get shut down.
Are Online Casinos in New Mexico Legal?
No, online casinos in New Mexico are not legal or regulated, and lawmakers in the state don’t show any interest in introducing bills that propose additional online gambling opportunities.
Just about all forms of online gambling in New Mexico is illegal as the state only permits daily fantasy sports. New Mexico online casinos, poker, and sports betting are illegal and not regulated.
Considering where New Mexico is located in the US, we’re not surprised that online casinos are not on the cards. There are no states around NM with intentions of legalizing online casinos yet, and the closest state is hundreds of miles away, ensuring gambling revenue will remain within the state borders.
Are Any Forms of Online Casinos Legal in New Mexico?
New Mexico is strictly against online gambling, which is defined as wagering real money on games of chance. Since sweepstakes online casinos do not use real money to play games, they are legal and safe.
The great news is that you can still claim real money rewards from sweepstakes online casinos by collecting sweep coins in various ways. Once you have enough sweeps, redeem them for various gifts and cash prizes.
When will New Mexico Legalize Online Casinos?
New Mexico online casinos are a long way from being legalized. Lawmakers show no interest in online gambling and the state is not one of the 30+ states that have recently legalized online sports betting.
Since there are no neighboring states that are considering online casinos, there’s no pressure to change the online gambling law in New Mexico either.
Brief Gambling History in New Mexico
Like most states that permit gambling, New Mexico’s history starts with legal betting on pari-mutuel in 1947.
For over 40 years, not much changed in legal gambling opportunities, and in 1990, the state signed the first compact to permit tribal casinos in New Mexico. This came soon after the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed. While commercial land-based casinos are available, these were only permitted in 2011, and the first commercial land-based casino launched in Albuquerque.
Surprisingly, New Mexico was among the first to permit in-person betting in 2018, soon after the Supreme Court overturned the federal Sports Protection Act in May 2018. While many assumed NM would also include online betting, no bills have managed to make any progress.
Best Sweepstakes Online Casinos in New Mexico
Since sweepstakes online casinos do not use real money to wager on games, they are perfectly legal. Some of the best Social online casinos in New Mexico provide the additional benefit of sweep coins, which you can exchange for cash rewards.
| Rank | Sweepstakes Online Casino | Welcome Reward |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | McLuck | 50,000 Coins + 25 Sweeps |
| 2. | Pulsz | 5,000 Coins + 2.3 Sweeps |
| 3. | Stake.us (Crypto) | 250,000 Coins + $25 Stake Cash |
| 4. | Gambino Slots | 100,000 Coins + 200 Free Spins |
| 5. | Funrize | 75,000 Coins Bonus |
In which States are Online Casinos Legal?
Online casinos in America were launched in 2013 but are only available in permitted states. Each state can choose to legalize online casinos, and New Jersey was the first to launch multiple sites. Ever since, six other states have also legalized online casinos, all located in the eastern part of America.
Closest State with Legal Online Casinos from New Mexico
There are no states within driving distance with online casinos from New Mexico. The closest would be Michigan, which is over 1,400 miles away. Of course, you can legally play at any of the above mentioned states as long as you’re in the state at the time. This also applies to airport layovers, travelling through, and vsiting friends and family.
Land-based Casinos in New Mexico
All casinos in New Mexico are affiliated with Indian Tribes and they offer an assortment of table games and electronic gaming machines. Additionally, slot machines are allowed at the state’s racetracks, as well as at about 40 various fraternal and veterans clubs.
Gaming regulations require that electronic gaming machines at casinos in New Mexico, racetracks and fraternal/veteran organizations return a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 96%.
New Mexico’s Indian tribes do not make their slot machine payback percentages a matter of public record and the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes only require all electronic gaming machines to return a minimum of 80%. This means that you will not be able to find out which are the best paying casinos in New Mexico.
Unlike the casinos in New Mexico, in many U.S. states, the slot machine payback statistics for that particular state’s casinos are released as a matter of public record.
Online Casinos in New Mexico are Far Away
Online casinos in New Mexico don’t seem to be coming anytime soon, especially since the state has not legalized online sports betting and has not submitted any bills to make changes. The fact that no other states around New Mexico have legalized online casinos also means there’s no pressure to make any drastic changes.
In the meantime, Sweepstakes online casinos in New Mexico are the most secure way to access the latest online slots, table games, and live dealer games, and you can access real cash rewards by collecting those sweep coins.