Lawmaker Urges Tribes to Revisit New Mexico Online Sports Betting

New Mexico hasn’t had online sports betting before. But with prediction markets running throughout the Land of Enchantment, one state legislator believes it’s time to reconsider that.

Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo) has called on New Mexico’s tribes to revisit allowing online sports betting in New Mexico. He argues that doing so could mean more tax revenue for the state, as it would provide competition for prediction markets. Currently, prediction markets operate outside of state jurisdiction, meaning they pay no state taxes.

New Mexico is already attempting to change that through the courts. In June, attorney general Raul Torrez filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, claiming that the prediction market company had violated New Mexico’s laws. That case is still waiting for a decision.

But Block believes that New Mexico shouldn’t wait. The state’s 17 tribes control gambling in the state, and Block believes that legal online sports betting could mean more revenue for New Mexico.

“It would be really nice, at least, to get some more revenue for people,” Block said. “If people are already here operating in the state illegally online, then that robs you, it robs us, it robs every single New Mexican of that tax revenue.”

What is the State of Online Sports Betting in New Mexico?

Currently, online sports betting isn’t available in New Mexico. The state’s Native American tribes control gambling completely in the state, and only in-person wagers on tribal land are permitted. In practice, that limits bettors in New Mexico to three options.

Casinos exist in Mescalero, Bernalillo and Albuquerque, with the first of the three located in southern New Mexico. Roughly 30% of the state’s population lives in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, near the Albuquerque and Bernalillo facilities. The Mescalero casino sits in the southern part of the state, allowing access for second-largest city Las Cruces.

But eastern New Mexico doesn’t have any options for legal sports betting nearby. With online sports betting illegal, that locks out people in the rural eastern part from participating. In order to legalize online sports betting across the state, New Mexico’s tribes must re-open the compact between themselves and the state.

Currently, the compact is set to run through 2037.

What Would Re-Opening the Sports Betting Compact Require?

The tribes are only one part of the equation. Re-opening the compact regarding online sports betting also requires the New Mexico governor, the legislature and the United States Secretary of the Interior.

That could slow the timeline considerably. Neither Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland or Republican gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull have taken any stance on online sports betting. Haaland, the former Secretary of the Interior under president Joe Biden, has previously argued for greater recognition for federal tribes. That would mean greater autonomy, especially in situations like this.

But her replacement, Doug Burgum, previously blocked a similar situation. Burgum was governor of North Dakota in 2022, when tribal officials asked him to permit sports betting in the state. Burgum refused, maintaining the limit of only allowing gambling at in-person tribal casinos.

With the federal government regularly supporting prediction markets, Burgum isn’t likely to change his position.

What Timeline Exists?

Online sports betting in New Mexico is likely several years away. Even with Block’s request, New Mexico would need to both get enough votes and convince Burgum to work with the state and the tribes.

With the New Mexico legislature adjourned for 2026, it’s likely that any efforts wouldn’t come until January 2027. Outgoing governor Michelle Lujan Grisham could call a special session, but isn’t likely unless the tribes intervene and ask.