The Professional and Amateur Sports Act (PASPA) of 1992, which banned sports betting in the United States, was nullified in May 2018 by the U.S. Supreme Court. This gave individual states the right to legalize sports betting within their borders. Since the PASPA was struck down, many states in the U.S. have made both online and offline sports betting legal. But is online sports betting allowed in New Mexico?

In this detailed guide to New Mexico online sports betting, we’ll discuss the current laws in NW and the top sportsbooks in the state. We will also walk you through how to join online betting sites in NW, the best bonuses, and the different types of leagues that you can wager on.

No, New Mexico residents cannot wager on online sports betting. As of September 2022, no bookie has launched sports betting app in New Mexico. No online sports betting site or app can debut until legislation changes. So, currently, you can only gamble in person in the Land of Enchantment.

No form of online gambling in New Mexico is legal following the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 2006 (UIGA). However, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is not explicitly prohibited in New Mexico. You can play DFS games powered by operators, such as FanDuel, DraftKings, Boom, ESPN, and Yahoo.

No state or federal gambling law stops New Mexico residents from playing with these bookies. But we don’t recommend playing with offshore sports betting sites because most of these bookies are not regulated by reputable gambling authorities. This means that they can cheat you and walk away without being punished.

Top online sports betting sites in New Mexico

When it comes to New Mexico sportsbooks, you have many different online bookies to choose from. But the truth is that not all N.M. online betting sites are created equally. Below are the four top New Mexico online sports betting sites that offer bettors an excellent gaming experience.

FanDuel New Mexico

Debuted on September 1, 2018, in the United States, FanDuel is a reputable online betting site in the U.S. with a significant market share. The online betting site is a secure platform in tune with its customers. Whether it’s attractive bonuses, excellent customer support, great lines, or secure banking options, FanDuel New Mexico has it all. There are several key features that can make your FanDuel sports wagering experience more exciting and also profitable. The features include live streaming, live betting, early cashout, and the same game parlay.

DraftKings New Mexico

This is among the most popular online sportsbook in terms of trailing and revenue. Although the sportsbook’s interface can try to do too much, it’s generally easy to use. In addition, the gaming operator covers a wide range of sports and markets, giving New Mexico bettors plenty of betting options.

Again, DraftKings bookie mobile app is impressive. It is available on both iOS and Android platforms, and you can get a link to download the mobile wagering app from the bookie’s site. Once you download and install it, the DraftKings app will present all the same markets and sports with a mobile-friendly interface.

BetRivers New Mexico

This is another rock-solid online betting platform that should be added to New Mexico bettor’s portfolio of bookies due to the number of wagering options and bonuses available. The BetRivers online betting site is among the most trusted platforms in the market.

In addition, the sportsbook offers attractive and excellent products for sports betting. Again, BetRivers accepts payments through multiple banking options designed for easy transactions. Deposits are free, and the bookie processes them instantly. New Mexico sports bettors looking for trusted PayPal gaming sites will find BetRivers appealing.

PointsBet New Mexico

An Australian-based online bookie, PointBet is now a highly popular choice among New Mexico bettors due to its stellar coverage, good pricing, and great mobile app. Additionally, PointBet offers a solid list of bonuses for New Mexico bettors and the promotions come with an easy to meet terms and conditions.

PointBet brings all the standard sportsbook features to the table. New Mexico bettors can benefit from the operator’s pointsBetting, a bet type unique to the Australia-based bookie.

How do I register and start wagering on NM betting sites?

Creating online sports betting account on any of the top New Mexico bookies is easy. It should take five minutes or less to complete the process. If you’re unsure how to do it, follow the steps below.

  1. Pick an NM betting site from our list – The first step is to pick a New Mexico online sportsbook from our list. Choosing the best NM betting app or betting site can be quite tricky and daunting due to the number of online sportsbooks out there. But we have carefully reviewed many New Mexico online betting sites and listed the best on this site. All you need to do is to browse through them and pick one that appeals to you.
  2. Ensure the betting website accepts your chosen payment method – Before picking a particular New Mexico online betting site, it’s essential to visit its cashier page to see all the available payment options. The best N.M. gaming sites offer a wide range of banking options that accommodate all players.
  3. Open an account with your information – On clicking the sign-up or register button on the operator’s homepage, a new page would pop up with a registration form. This is where you will be required to fill out a few of your personal information, such as first name, last name, gender, phone number, address, email, username, and password. However, keep in mind that each bookie’s registration form will slightly differ from another.
  4. Deposit funds – Before you can make a real money bet, you must add money to your newly created New Mexico online sports betting site. To fund your N.M. betting account, navigate to the bookie’s cashier, pick a preferred deposit option, enter an amount, and follow the on-screen instruction to finish up.
  5. Start betting online – Now that you have successfully created and funded your betting account, it’s time to experience the thrill and excitement that comes with betting online. All you need to do is to explore the operator’s offerings to find the ones that appeal to you and start wagering on them.

Although New Mexico has no major league professional sports teams, it has plenty of college and minor league teams. Below are the four most popular teams to bet on in New Mexico.

  • Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds – This team represents Eastern New Mexico University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II intercollegiate sports. They compete as a member of the LSC (Lone Star Conference) for the whole twelve varsity sports. The good news is that many New Mexico online betting sites allow bettors to wager on this team.
  • Albuquerque Isotopes – Founded in 2003, Albuquerque Isotopes is a Minor League Baseball (MLB) team. The team plays its home matches at the Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When wagering on this team, there are plenty of markets that you can bet on, including Moneyline and over/under.
  • New Mexico State Aggies – The New Mexico State University team, also known as the Aggies is a football team that represents the Land of Enchantment in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 as an independent. This team has four bowl games with a record of 3–0–1. Furthermore, the New Mexico State Aggies have an overall record of 440–664–30 in 128 seasons.
  • New Mexico Ice Wolves – Owned by Desert Ice Investment, LLC, the New Mexico Ice Wolves is a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League’s South Division. The team plays its home matches in the Outpost Ice Arenas in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Best bonus types in New Mexico sports betting

Almost all New Mexico sites offer bonuses and promotions. However, not all betting offers are worth your time. Here are the best New Mexico betting bonuses you’d look out for.

  • Odds boosts – An odds boost is a bet where the house has increased the odds in favor of the players, giving the bettors a better price. The online bookie usually decides the amount that’ll be increased before giving the offer. Once the promo is available on its site, both old and new bettors can take advantage of the odds boost. There are several types of odds boost promotions, but each one has the same basic goal, which is to enhance your bet’s potential payout. The different types of odds boosts include daily odds boosts, special event odds boosts, and season-long odds boosts.
  • No deposit bonuses – A no-deposit bonus is a free offer you can use to wager and win real money. The only requirement is to create a betting account and enter a promo code if required to claim the offer. This offer differs from instant-play games, where you can wager for free but can’t win any real cash. A no-deposit offer is a great way to test out the different sports betting products that a bookie has available. Once you feel confident, it is then easier to make real money deposits and start betting.
  • Deposit match bonuses – As the name suggests, a deposit match offer is a type of bonus where a New Mexico bookie will give you a bonus by matching your deposits. In most cases, N.M. online sportsbooks cap this offer at a certain amount. If you deposit $150, the online bookie will reward you with an extra $150, making it a total of $300. Furthermore, keep in mind that deposit match bonuses in New Mexico usually come with wagering requirements. The bonus wagering requirement means the number of times you have to wager the promotion money before you will be able to withdraw any winnings made with the deal.
  • Free bets – These are free credits that New Mexico sportsbooks give bettors to enable them to make wagers without incurring any inherent risk. They’re not cash, meaning you can’t simply claim and withdraw them. Instead, you’re going to have to make a qualifying bet. Once the free bet is settled, and the winnings are paid, then the offer will disappear.
  • Risk-free bets – This bonus is similar to free bets in all aspects, except that to claim a risk-free bet you’re going to have to take a loss at the NM bookie. For example, when a New Mexico sportsbook gives out a $150 risk-free promo, the bettor will first have to wager up to $150 on a bet, using their own cash. If the bet wins, it’s more like the bonus doesn’t exist. However, if the bet loses, the bettor will get a free bet equal to the initial amount wagered.
  • Loyalty & VIP programs – Sports wagering VIP and loyalty programs are automated tracking systems that monitor gamblers’ play and give rewards according to their activities. As bettors make wagers online, they accumulate status points and get increasingly valuable rewards as they move up through the various VIP levels. You can redeem loyalty points for money or cash equivalents, such as site credits. Furthermore, New Mexico online bookies often reward their users with a bevy of other incentives based on their betting volume.

Can I bet on Daily Fantasy Sports legally in NM?

Yes, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is allowed in New Mexico. Having said that, it’s important to know that Daily Fantasy Sports are not technically legal as DFS providers are only allowed to operate in Land of Enchantment because the state’s gambling definition does not include Daily Fantasy Sports. That will likely continue to be the situation of Daily Fantasy Sports in New Mexico since there have not been many efforts in proposing bills to make DFS legal.

Can I bet on horse races online in New Mexico?

No, you cannot wager on horse races online in New Mexico. That being said, offline horse race wagering is legal within the borders of Land of Enchantment since the New Mexico Racing Commission regulates it.

Which sports leagues can I bet on in New Mexico?

Knowing the sports league to wager on can be confusing because of the wide range of sports leagues available to New Mexico residents. Here are the sports leagues you can bet on within the borders of New Mexico.

  • NFL – The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that comprises 32 teams, divided evenly between the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference. Betting on NFL presents you with lots of markets, including totals, point spread, Moneyline, futures, and teasers.
  • NBA – Founded on 6 June 1946, the NBA (National Basketball Association) is a professional basketball in North America. It’s among the major professional sports leagues in the U.S. and Canada, and there are 30 teams in the NBA. Due to the popularity of the league, betting goes hand in hand with the NBA. In every NBA game, there are a huge variety of bets available.
  • MLB – This is a professional baseball organization that was established in 1903. Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest major professional sports league in the world. The MLB league is made up of 30 teams, shared equally among the National League and the American League, with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB betting is among one of the simplest sports betting leagues to understand.
  • NML – Located in Albuquerque, the New Mexico Lobos (NML) is the intercollegiate football team at the University of New Mexico. The team plays as a member of the Mountain West Conference. New Mexico Lobos’ official colors are cherry and silver and the team plays its home games at University Stadium.
  • MLS – The MLS (Major League Soccer) is a men’s professional soccer league licensed by the U.S. States Soccer Federation. This league comprises 29 teams, 3 in Canada and 26 in the United States. The MLS league is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan. MLS offers a wide range of wagering options. You can place a bet on the Moneyline where you pick a team to win. Other MLS bet types include over/under, point spread, props, live betting, futures, and parlays.

Legislation timeline of New Mexico sports betting

Of all the states in the U.S. offering legal online sports betting, New Mexico is one of the most unique and, in some ways, complex. Below is the legislation timeline for New Mexico sports betting.

  • 1946 — New Mexico stepped into the gaming landscape with horse racing legalized.
  • 1995 — New Mexico made its first attempt at expanding gaming with the introduction of the N.W. state lotto. Tribal casinos also got approved that same year, making way for in-person sports wagering down the line.
  • 2016 — Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is allowed in New Mexico
  • 2018 — The Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel announces it’ll start taking sports bets, citing an already existing clause in New Mexico’s gambling compact. Sports betting started, though only in person.

FAQ

Who regulates online sports betting in NM?

Online sports betting has no regulatory body in New Mexico since it has not been approved in the state. However, the regulation of in-person sports betting in New Mexico rests with each tribal gaming regulator. For example, if you use a bookie located at Ana Star Casino and Hotel, the Pueblo of Santa Ana Gambling Commission is the main authority.

When will New Mexico have multiple online betting sites?

New Mexico will have multiple online betting sites when the state legalizes internet gambling. But we don't know when that will happen since there's no bill in review. However, we'll constantly update any information regarding online sports betting in New Mexico on this page.

How old do I need to be to bet on sports in NM?

You must be at least 21 years to wager on sports in New Mexico. However, if you're 18 years, you can purchase lotto tickets and bet at the horse tracks. But right now, New Mexico has not set any specific age for online sports betting since it's yet to be legalized.

Can I bet on college teams in New Mexico?

No, betting on college teams in New Mexico is not allowed within the state's borders. However, New Mexico residents can wager college teams outside the state.