| Summary |
Gambling in New Mexico has seen a significant rise in activity over the past decade due to the introduction of new gaming laws and the expansion of existing ones. This has allowed for the establishment of casinos and other forms of gaming throughout the state, bringing in much-needed revenue for New Mexico's economy.
The Native American Indian Gaming Act of 1988 gave tribes in New Mexico the authority to negotiate gaming compacts with the state. This enabled tribal governments to build and operate casinos on their lands as a way to generate economic activity and revenue. Since then, more than 20 casinos have opened across the state, providing jobs and revenue to their respective communities.
In addition to the casinos, New Mexico has also legalized racetracks, electronic gaming machines, and sports betting. These new forms of gaming, particularly sports betting, have seen a steady rise in popularity, with many people now visiting the state's racetracks and casinos to bet on sporting events.
The state has also seen an influx of online gaming sites, allowing people to play popular casino games such as poker, blackjack, and slots from the comfort of their own home. The growth of online gaming sites has had a positive impact on the state's economy, and it is estimated that over $1 billion was spent in New Mexico's gaming industry in 2020.
New Mexico's gaming laws have allowed for the growth of an exciting industry throughout the state, bringing much-needed revenue and jobs to the area. Gambling, in particular, has seen a significant rise over the past decade, with more people taking part in casinos, racetracks, electronic gaming machines, and sports betting. The growth of New Mexico's gaming industry is a testament to the success of the state's gaming laws and is expected to continue to bring in much-needed revenue in the years to come.
Gambling Flourishing in New Mexico
Gambling in New Mexico is not a new occurrence. It has been rapidly rising in popularity over the past decade, with gambling venues popping up throughout the state. This growth in gaming has been both beneficial and detrimental to the region, as the economic impact varies depending on the interest of the local population.Long History with Gambling in New Mexico
As early as 1822, gambling was part of New Mexico's culture, with a series of events leading up to the legalization of gambling in 1985. In the early 20th century, a number of casinos were established, although they were illegal. It wasn't until the late 1990s that gambling in the state really started to take off, with the opening of a number of tribal-run casinos.Casinos and Sports Betting
Today, New Mexico offers a variety of gambling opportunities. The most popular form of gambling found in the state is the casino, with a vast selection of options to choose from. In addition to the traditional casino games, the state also offers sports betting, which has been booming in recent years.Growth of Local Economy
The growth of gambling in New Mexico has had a positive impact on the local economy. It has provided much-needed jobs to residents, while also generating a high level of tax revenue. Additionally, it has helped to draw in a number of tourists and locals alike, who are eager to test their luck in one of the many casinos that have been popping up.The state has Las Vegas-style slots, blackjack and poker at 15 Indian casinos, 1,100 outlets that sell lottery tickets, horse racing and slots at five racetracks, and gambling at more than 60 veterans and fraternal clubs.
Nearly a decade after the first state-tribal agreements to legalize American Indian casinos were signed, gambling in the state is flourishing, the Albuquerque Journal reported in the first of an eight-part series on gambling.
This year, an estimated $3.9 billion will be wagered at the state's casinos, racetracks, clubs and in the state lottery.
And gamblers in New Mexico are projected to lose nearly $850 million this year in a state that has ranked among the poorest in the nation for personal per-capita income for the last decade.
Gambling has its fans and critics in New Mexico, but even opponents agree that gaming is likely here to stay.
Former Gov. Gary Johnson, who signed the historic gambling legislation in the 1990s, said he had no choice under federal law but to negotiate with the tribes and pueblos to expand gaming.
"Is it good for New Mexico? I think at best you can call it a wash because, of course, there are a lot of people adversely affected by gambling. But then, on the positive side, it's good for tribes and pueblos," Johnson said.
Former Democratic Gov. Toney Anaya acknowledges the state lottery and gaming likely have the majority of citizen support.
"But we are not Nevada, and we can't have our economy based on gambling. But because we don't have a lot of other economic development in the state, we're eating ourselves up from inside," he said.
Indian gaming nationwide began in 1988 when President Reagan signed legislation to permit Indian casinos.
By 1994, eight Indian casinos were operating slot machines in New Mexico.
After taking office in 1995, Johnson negotiated the original compacts to permit gaming on Indian lands in New Mexico. Those compacts were later ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court because the Legislature hadn't given consent.
In 1997, the state House, reversing a vote from a day before, approved a state-tribal compact to permit Indian casinos by a 35-34 vote. The bill also legalized slot machines at horse tracks and veterans and fraternal clubs. The Senate quickly approved the House-passed bill, and Johnson signed it.
Charlie Dorame, chairman of the New Mexico Indian Gaming Association, said the tribes are not interested in getting rich from the casinos, but they want to improve their communities. For example, in Tesuque, about 80 percent of the money for the Head Start program comes from casino revenue, said Dorame, former governor of Tesuque Pueblo and head of its government relations.
"We're living in the same old mud and adobe homes, but they have new roofs," he said.
Dorame said Indian casinos in New Mexico "are going to be bigger and better."
New racetracks with slot machines called racinos are being discussed in Santa Fe, Tucumcari, and Raton.
Santa Fe art dealer Jerry Peters and Jemez Pueblo are proposing an off-reservation casino along the Interstate 10 corridor between Las Cruces and El Paso, TX.
Despite gambling's taking off in the state, there are many unknowns about the industry's affect on New Mexico.
There has been no serious independent attempt in recent years to gauge Indian gambling's economic impact off the reservations. There has been no real state study on problem gamblers since the mid-1990s, though there is anecdotal evidence of foreclosures, bankruptcies, divorce, and even suicide. And the process of state regulation of tribal gaming is cloaked in secrecy.
Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, who opposed gambling, said it's not going to go away. "The challenge is to make lemons into lemonade," he said.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.
