Is Sports Betting Legal in New Mexico?
Yes, betting on sports is legal in New Mexico.
Yes, offshore sportsbooks accept players from New Mexico.
- Last Updated: February 10, 2025
What sports betting apps are legal in New Mexico?
New Mexico bettors have access to apps such as FanDuel and DraftKings, as well as trusted offshore sportsbooks such as BetOnline and Bovada which both have 20+ year track records.
Trusted betting sites for players in New Mexico
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What sports betting apps are legal in New Mexico?
Below, you’ll find detailed reviews of each of the top-rated sports betting websites that offer their services to New Mexico bettors.
- Competitive reduced juice odds at -108
- Comprehensive live betting options
- Best reduced juice lines at -105
- Quick and reliable payouts
- Robust live betting platform
Nowadays Bovada is best known for their superior mobile app and large variety of political and entertainment bets. Bovada’s bonuses and aggressive rewards program remains among the best.
- An intuitive, user-friendly mobile interface
- An expansive range of betting markets
- Opinionated Lines
- Broad range of bonus offers
- High betting limits
- Renowned loyalty program
- Variety of promotions
- Excellent customer service department
How to Bet on Sports in New Mexico
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1 Pick Your SportsbooksChoose an offshore sportsbook available in you prefer. Register by clicking “Join” and complete the simple form.
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2 Claim a BonusSelect from available promotions and deposit match offers. It’s recommended to use crypto if available since generally speaking welcome bonuses are larger if using crypto.
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3 Deposit FundsFind the cashier, pick your payment method—credit cards, wire transfers, or crypto—and confirm your deposit.
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4 Place a BetPick your sport—NFL, NBA, NHL, or more—and add bets to your slip. Enter your stake, then confirm your wager.
New Mexico Sports Betting Updates
The timeline of sports betting in New Mexico is a narrative of gradual progression, regulatory developments and strategic negotiations between state authorities and tribal nations. This section offers a comprehensive overview of the key milestones and sports betting laws in New Mexico:
City officials vote in favor of transferring over 130 acres of vacant land for casino development to the indigenous group Pueblo of Picuris.
According to a study, New Mexico ranks 29th in the list of Most Gambling-Addicted States.
New Mexico casinos reach $203 million in revenue derived from gaming machines over the first quarter of 2023. This is slightly higher than the numbers for the same time in 2019 before the pandemic struck the United States.
Legends Sportsbook, located in the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel and the first one in New Mexico, gets a facelift, expanding its in-game betting capacity.
BetMGM opens up a retail sportsbook at Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque.
A bill to expand sports betting to include online and mobile platforms is introduced in the New Mexico legislature but does not advance. This reflects the state’s cautious approach to the expansion of sports betting beyond tribal casinos.
New Mexico sees a significant increase in sports betting activities across its tribal casinos, with growing interest in mobile and online betting options, although state law does not yet formally allow these platforms.
New Mexico became the 6th state to authorize legal sports betting after PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court, lifting the nationwide ban on sports betting. The first sports bet was taken at Santa Ana Casino later that month.
The New Mexico Gaming Control Board begins discussions about the potential expansion of sports betting, acknowledging the increasing interest and potential revenue from this form of gambling.
An update to the amendment of the Class III gaming compact allows for sports betting.
An amendment to the Tribal-State Class III gaming compact is proposed to explicitly include sports betting, following national trends and discussions about the legality and potential of sports betting in the United States.
The State of New Mexico and several tribes renegotiate the terms of the gaming compact, including discussions about the inclusion of new forms of gambling and revenue-sharing agreements.
The 2001 Tribal-State Class III gaming compact amendments were approved.
New Mexico’s tribal casinos experience significant growth, with an increase in the variety of gaming options offered. This period marks a consolidation of the tribal gaming industry in the state.
The Pojoaque Tribe entered the gaming pact originally signed in 2001.
The New Mexico legislature begins exploring the implications of expanding gambling options in the state, including the potential for sports betting at tribal casinos.
The Navajo Nation and New Mexico enter into a gaming compact.
The Mescalero Tribe entered the tribal gaming pact.
New gaming compacts were approved and signed by all the tribes other than the Mescalero and Pojoaque.
Discussions begin among New Mexico’s tribal nations regarding the possibility of introducing sports betting in their casinos, anticipating future changes in federal legislation.
The state of New Mexico and its tribes reach a milestone in their negotiations over gaming compacts, setting a precedent for future discussions about the expansion of gambling activities, including sports betting.
In the wake of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, New Mexico’s tribal nations start to explore various gaming opportunities, laying the groundwork for future negotiations with the state regarding sports betting and other forms of gambling.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is made law. This allows Native American Tribes across the country to negotiate and form gaming pacts of their own that are outside of state gambling laws and jurisdiction.
As the state continues to consider the expansion of sports betting, including online and mobile platforms, its past experiences and negotiations offer valuable insights into the potential future trajectory of the sports betting industry in New Mexico.
Below we’ll go over the criteria used by our betting experts to choose which are the best mobile sites in New Mexico. The criteria are the same that we recommend you to use when making your choice as well. All of these qualities were prerequisites to even be considered for this list of recommended offshore sports betting sites in New Mexico:
Mobile Betting Experience Quality
The best mobile betting experience is one that is similar to the desktop offering. After all, the desktop is the best version of the site therefore it stands to reason that the mobile experience aspires to replicate that. The closer the mobile experience is to the desktop, the better your betting experience will be. It’s important that mobile customers can get the same great experience.
Value of the Betting Lines & Odds
Price shopping is one of the most important things to serious bettors. The value of lines can never be underestimated because there are a lot of choices out there. It would be silly to ignore better prices if you knew they were available elsewhere which means that the value of the lines at the sportsbook you choose is of the utmost importance.
You would expect that the brand you sign up with has odds on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and UFC which you can find at every online sportsbook. If you find several markets outside of these leagues, this is an indication that the site you’ve chosen has good value with their odds.
It isn’t easy to manage betting odds from various leagues and the more options a sportsbook has for you to choose from the more comfortable you should feel about the value of the odds.
Bonuses for Sports Betting
You won’t typically find bonuses that are specific to mobile players for the simple fact that the majority of sportsbook traffic comes from mobile bets. Since mobile customers have become the norm, there really is no incentive for gambling sites to offer bonuses specifically for this platform.
You will find the same bonuses available for mobile as you would for the desktop version of the site you choose; some sites offer bigger bonuses for players who rely on crypto transactions as opposed to traditional methods.
Live Betting & Streaming
Live streaming for sports betting sites should be more common. Sites like Bovada and BetOnline do offer streaming of horse races for example from tracks all across the country. Other brands will offer live streams for games where they offer live betting.
Sports fans would expect live streaming to be a more common feature for sportsbooks and it will be as they continue to work out deals with third-party providers.
Variety of Banking Options & Payout Timeframes
In order for a site to be considered for this guide they need to have a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options. Starting with the fact that these brands cater to customers from all over the world, it would be very odd to see them with limited banking options as every jurisdiction has a different set of rules. Limited banking options would mean automatic disqualification from this list.
Customer Service Help
Customer service at an offshore sportsbook needs to go above and beyond because they offer so many different gambling services. While we would prefer 24-hour coverage, our betting experts prioritized quality first. All of the recommended sites in this guide provided excellent service.
Prestige & Security
Cyber security is more important than ever in the world we live in. With the amount of personal information in every account, security is at the very top of every offshore sportsbook’s priorities.
Types of Sports Bets in New Mexico
Ever wondered what other types of bets are available in New Mexico? Placing sports bets online allows you to mix things up and find what works best for you. Understanding these bets can also help you make smarter choices.
Here are some popular options:
- Moneyline Bets: One of the simplest bets you can place. Just pick the team or player you think will win the game. The odds determine your potential payout, making it easy to calculate your winnings.
- Spread Betting: This involves betting on a favorite or underdog. The favorite must win by more than the set point spread, while the underdog can win outright or lose by fewer points to cover the spread.
- Total (Over/Under) Bets: Instead of picking a winner, you bet on whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook. It’s a great option if you understand the pace of the game but aren’t sure about the outcome.
- Prop Wagers: These focus on specific events within a game that don’t affect the final outcome. Examples include predicting who will score first or how many passing yards a quarterback will have.
- Parlays: Combine multiple bets into one for a chance at a bigger payout. You can mix moneylines, totals and even props in a single wager, but all parts of the parlay must win to cash out.
New Mexico’s sports betting scene offers plenty of ways to enjoy your favorite games, whether you stick to the basics or try something new.
New Mexico Betting Bonuses
Before agreeing to any bonus, the best thing you can do as a new online sportsbook player is think about how often you would like to cash out. For example, some players come in at the beginning of the NFL season, make a big deposit and will not cash out until the season is over. Others come in for events like big horse races and want to cash out that same day once the event has ended.
For the sports bettors in the first scenario, taking bonuses makes perfect sense. The terms and conditions of the bonus should not be a problem because wagers over the course of a season should meet the terms and conditions of the bonus taken with ease.
The player in the second scenario should stay as far away from most bonuses as possible. All bonuses come with conditions that obligate you to risk a certain amount every time you make a bet. If you want to cash out the same day you deposit, that will most likely not be possible.
This is why knowing your playing style is actually more important than the bonus you choose. It may turn out that your style of play does not suit any type of bonus which is fine. There are a lot of players that do not ever take bonuses.
Sign-Up Bonuses
This is usually the biggest bonus you’ll receive as a customer because it is a tool that is used to attract new players to an online sports betting site. Just as previously mentioned, you should figure out what your playing style is before taking any sign-up bonus.
Another piece of advice for those of you who do prioritize bonuses. Reload bonuses are more important than the signup bonus. The reason for this is that you are only eligible for the signup bonus one time per account.
The majority of your bonuses will be given after you reload your account and if those bonuses are weak (in your opinion) then taking the sign-up bonus doesn’t make nearly as much sense. Most people aren’t signing up for the one-and-done type of gambling experience so consider the strength of the reload promos if bonuses are a priority for you.
Existing Customer Promos
Existing customer bonuses will be referred to as “reload” bonuses by the majority of the industry. These are bonuses given out to returning players after they’ve already claimed the sign-up bonus. As previously mentioned, you should actually consider the value of the reload bonus before even signing up and claiming the reload bonuses.
In fact, a lot of times, the sign-up bonuses might be much bigger in terms of percentage but the terms require you to risk significantly more money to meet the required play-through. You are under no obligation to claim a sign-up bonus.
If you browse the site or speak to a customer service agent and you see a reload bonus that you feel is better than the sign-up offer, the majority of brands will have no problem with you claiming the reload bonus if you feel like it’s a better deal for you.
No-Deposit Bonuses
A no-deposit bonus offer is very rare and always comes with terms and conditions. Sportsbooks do not offer bonuses that do not have required play-through, even if that play-through amount is one time the bonus amount. You should definitely expect that to be the case with no deposit bonuses as sportsbooks have to put these terms in place to protect themselves from bonus abusers.
Free Bets
Similar to no deposit bonuses, free bets are rare and always carry terms and conditions that require a minimum amount of required action. These bonuses also usually include max cashout stipulations as well.
New Mexico's Most Popular Sports Teams
New Mexico may not boast the same level of professional sports team presence as some other states, but it more than makes up for it with a passionate fan base.
The excitement of college games often fills the void left by professional leagues, drawing fans from across the state to cheer on their favorite teams. Here, we spotlight the top professional and college teams that have become fan favorites, capturing the spirit of sports fans throughout the Land of Enchantment:
- Dallas Cowboys (NFL): The Dallas Cowboys are a favorite among New Mexico’s NFL fans, thanks to their proximity and iconic status. Their games attract significant interest, whether it’s through betting or fandom, making them a staple of the New Mexico sports scene.
- Denver Broncos (NFL): Another NFL team with a strong following in New Mexico, the Denver Broncos enjoy a passionate fan base in the state. Their storied history and rivalry games keep fans engaged and excited throughout the season.
- Phoenix Suns (NBA): As the closest NBA team to New Mexico, the Phoenix Suns are widely followed by basketball fans in the region. The team’s recent resurgence and playoff success have only increased its popularity among New Mexico sports fans.
- University of New Mexico Lobos (NCAA): Based in Albuquerque, the Lobos are perhaps the most widely followed collegiate team in New Mexico, with their basketball and football teams drawing significant attention. The basketball team, in particular, has a strong following, with games at The Pit being known for their energetic atmosphere and loud crowds.
- New Mexico State University Aggies (NCAA): Located in Las Cruces, the Aggies rival the Lobos in popularity and competitive spirit, particularly in basketball where the team has made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds (NCAA Division II): Though not as large as the programs at UNM or NMSU, Eastern New Mexico University’s athletic teams, particularly in football and basketball, have a dedicated following.
Commonly Accepted Banking Methods in New Mexico
For those engaging in sports betting activities within New Mexico’s tribal casinos or with an online platform, understanding the common payment methods that are used in the broader sports betting industry is valuable knowledge. Here’s a general overview of traditional payment methods and electronic payment methods that are typically accepted at online sportsbooks:
- Credit Cards & Debit Cards: Should online betting become available, Visa and MasterCard are likely to be accepted for deposits. These offer convenience but may face restrictions from some financial institutions regarding gambling transactions.
- Prepaid Cards: Casinos often offer their own prepaid cards that can be used for gaming and other amenities offered by the casino. These can be an efficient way to manage gambling expenditures.
- E-Wallets: Popular e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller could be options for online sports betting, providing fast and secure transactions without sharing bank details with the betting operator.
- Bank Transfers & ACH Payments: Direct transfers from a bank account to a gaming account offer a secure way to deposit funds, though this would be more relevant for online wagering.
- Check or Money Order: For larger transactions or where electronic methods are not preferred, checks or money orders could be used, especially for withdrawals.
- Cryptocurrency Options: Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin could offer an innovative payment solution, prized for their enhanced privacy, lower transaction fees and faster processing times, making them an attractive option for both bettors and operators looking to streamline the deposit and withdrawal process.
These payment options allow mobile bettors in New Mexico to have their sports betting transactions handled securely and quickly.
Conclusion
Sports betting is permitted in New Mexico through tribal gaming compacts—though you have to place wagers in person at a retail sportsbook.
If you’d rather skip the trip and avoid retail sports betting, you have options: reputable international sportsbooks like BetOnline, Heritage Sports and Everygame let you bet from home. Plus, they offer bigger bonuses, higher betting limits and more competitive odds than brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
New Mexico Betting Sites FAQs
Can you bet online in New Mexico?
Many New Mexico players enjoy licensed, independent online sportsbooks. These sites offer exclusive prop bets, high betting limits, early line access and convenient crypto payouts, providing a comprehensive betting experience across global sports.
Can I use FanDuel in New Mexico?
FanDuel’s sportsbook, which is popular for playing fantasy sports, is not available in New Mexico. Residents can explore popular online sportsbooks like Heritage Sports and BookMaker that provide flexible banking options and exciting bonuses for traditional sports wagering.
Is DraftKings allowed in New Mexico?
DraftKings Sportsbook, popular for playing daily fantasy sports, isn’t available in New Mexico, but bettors enjoy international sportsbooks like BetOnline for broader markets, early line access and unique prop bets. With high betting limits and flexible payment options, these platforms cater to all levels of players.
Does Bovada work in New Mexico?
Yes, Bovada is available in New Mexico as a reputable international sportsbook. Known for its live betting options, crypto-friendly transactions and casino games, Bovada offers New Mexico players a flexible and comprehensive betting experience beyond what local casinos provide.
Does BetMGM work in New Mexico?
BetMGM Sportsbook is not available in New Mexico. Many New Mexico residents rely on international sportsbooks like BookMaker and BetOnline, which are known for higher limits, unique props and quick payouts.
New Mexico Betting Guides
Our detailed betting guides cover everything you need to know about the other ways to gamble in New Mexico:
New Mexico Betting News
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