Casinos, Racetracks In New Mexico Lobby For Gambling Expansion

• Many casinos and racetrack casinos in New Mexico have banded together to lobby for gambling expansion.
• The proposal is to bring forth intent gambling, 24-hour casino operations, and new unlimited video slots and table games.
• The case has been brought to the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico racetrack casinos and tribal casinos have joined forces to lobby for a new gambling market expansion.

The case is to bring forth a complete overhaul of the gambling market in the Land of Enchantment, bringing forth new innovations found in other states.

Officials have brought the case forth to the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee. Should the lobbyists win, local gamblers will see a massive expansion of the gambling market.

Racinos Fight For Expansion

The New Mexico gambling market may see a complete overhaul if officials from several racetrack casinos manage to win their case of expansion.

If successful, New Mexico will see 24-hour casino operations, internet gambling, and unlimited video slot machines as well as new table games.

“I just want to stress what we’re here today to talk about is an idea, a proposal,” said Scott Scanland, a lobbyist for Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. “Nothing is set in stone. We want to come before this committee to try to start the conversation among all the stakeholders and talk about the possibility of expanding gaming in New Mexico.”

The one caveat with this expansion is that if approved, it runs the risk of affecting the current compacts with local tribal casinos. These compacts are set until 2037.

The current agreement sees the tribal casinos pay a portion of revenue to the state every quarter. If gambling is expanded, online gambling, in particular, the tribes may see this as a breach in the agreement.

Sunland Park lobbyist Scanland proclaims that the racetracks and casinos have reached out to the native tribes to come to an agreement. With the new proposal, tribes would no longer have to pay the state a portion of their profits.

This would theoretically be a win-win as the state would then just raise the taxes on gambling for the other casino operations, the tribes would keep all of their revenue, and the racetrack casinos would be able to offer more legal gambling.

No official decision has been made by the state, but New Mexico residents may be gaining a major boom in gambling options soon.