Online Nm Poker
New Mexico has domestic land-based physical poker games offered within tribal-run casino establishments. However, NM has yet to authorized online poker gambling offers. Nonetheless, NM players can use licensed offshor online poker sites in the meantime.
We have created this guide to share domestic poker gambling option and explain the legality of licensed offshore online New Mexico poker rooms.
Are Online Poker Sites Legal In New Mexico?
There are 5 poker rooms in the Albuquerque & NM area, and we at PokerAtlas provide complete and up-to-date information about every room in every location including Albuquerque and Greater New Mexico. Short Summary: This page looks at the different forms of gambling in the State of New Mexico, discusses the legality of online gambling and gives a detailed listing of all of the Commercial and Tribal casinos in the state. The State of New Mexico is pretty gambling-friendly, in general, given that most forms of gambling are legal within the state.
- The status of New Mexico legal online gambling has been put on hold while the state decides whether it would like to regulate online gaming. Nonetheless, this does not remove all online gambling options to NM residents and visitors as licensed offshore platforms are lawfully available.
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While domestic state-licensed online poker platforms are not authorized through passed legislation, NM gambling laws do not include prohibitions against licensed offshore online poker sites. However, the state does prohibit the operation of domestic NM-based online poker sites.
This state may not have domestic online poker gambling offers due to having the capability to since 2011 when the DOJ revisited the Wire Act and due to the fact that the Navajo Native American tribe in the state successfully lobbied against the legalization of domestic online poker rooms in the past.
Legally Licensed Online Poker Sites Accepting New Mexico Players
The following online poker rooms have been inspected by our team of industry specialists who have taken the liberty to check the locations, licensing, and regulatory bodies of each of these websites -finding them to be in perfect contention with American gambling laws. Each brand below instills strong security protocols, have consistently high customer reviews, boast the latest fair play practices, and offer tournaments, multiple poker game variations, bonuses, and much more.
| Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site |
Other New Mexico Gambling Pages
Land-Based Poker Rooms In New Mexico
Below is a list of some of NM’s available physical poker rooms:
- Route 66 Casino Hotel Poker Room – Albuquerque, NM
- Sky City Casino Poker Room – Acoma, NM
- Buffalo Thunder Casino – Santa Fe, NM
- Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino – Mescalero, NM
- Isleta Casino – Albuquerque, NM
- Sandia Poker Room – Albuquerque, NM
What Games Can I Play At New Mexico Online Poker Rooms?
Texas Hold’em
Texas Holdem is probably the most well-known version of poker that is played all over the world. Players will be dealt their two hole cards before the first round of betting. Players can bet, check, or fold before the flop. Then three cards are dealt on the table in what’s known as the flop, two more rounds of betting will ensue called “the turn” for the fourth card on the table, and “the river” for the fifth. Players will use their two cards with the 5 shown on the table to assemble the best hand they can before showing your cards.
Omaha
In Omaha, players will be dealt 4 hole cards. They are the same betting rounds as in Texas Hold’em, the flop, the turn, and the river. The difference is that at the end of the game the player will use only two of their hole cards and only three of the community cards on the table to make up the best hand that they can.
In “The Showdown, “ when there is more than one player left after the last round of betting. Between the players, the last person to raise, or to bet show their cards first. If there was no bet in the final round, the player immediately clockwise from the dealer, or button, in this case, will show their cards first.
7-card stud
This is the first version of poker that people tend to learn. In this version of poker, there are no community cards. The table will be dealt clockwise until each player has 3 cards. The first two cards are a player’s hole cards and the third is dealt face up on the table. There are five rounds of betting called “Third Street,” “Fourth Street,” “Fifth Street,” “Sixth Street,” and the “Seventh Street” AKA “The River”. Players will be dealt a card with each round of betting and whoever has the best hand at the end wins.
Other Online Poker Variations
NM players will also be able to find various other iterations of poker that are played around the world at licensed offshore New Mexico online poker rooms. The three above are the most popular but players can also find Americana, different types of stud poker that are played with 3 and 5 cards, and each of the versions above in hi/lo formats.
What Tournaments Can I Play In?
Tournaments are where the real money is. These change all over the industry depending on the licensed offshore poker site players are looking at but here are a few of the most popular ones.
Free Roll tournaments are tournaments with no entry fee or requirement and may function almost like a free play version of the tournaments. If players play their hand right they could come out with a profit.
Sit-and-Go tournaments are tournaments which are run at a quick pace so players can get on with their day.
Can I Play For Free At Online Poker Sites?
Free Play is a common option provided at licensed offshore New Mexico online poker rooms. Free play games run exactly the same way the real money games work except they aren’t played with real currency. Instead, these Free Play games are played with a fictional limitless currency which allows players to get a feel for the system and understand where and when to click to place the proper bets according to their hands without risking their hard earned money. Free play is also available for the following licensed offshore services: NM online bingo halls, and NM online casinos.
Are There Online Poker Bonuses For New Mexico Players?
There are many different online bonuses that NM residents can take advantage of from staples like “Welcome bonuses” all the way to game-specific bonuses. Welcome bonuses are match bonuses, and like other match bonuses (Reload Bonus, and Cryptocurrency Deposit Bonus) these reward players will additional funds based on a certain portion of their deposit like a 50% or 100% match bonus. Other bonuses available include referral bonuses, bonuses that offer free tournament entry, free chips, poker bonuses, and much more.
Can I Play Real Money Poker Games From My Mobile Phone?
Yes, through HTML5 technology. HTML5 has allowed online poker providers to host their own games attached to their URL instead of relying on the popular mobile application stores in the past and requiring user’s to download an app. NM players simply must enter their preferred site into their mobile browser’s URL and poker games instantly become available to them on their mobile device no matter what the operating system or device they are usin.
What Are The Banking Options For NM Players?
Banking options for these websites vary from site to site. The most popularly used methods of deposit and withdrawal for international players are major credit and debit cards, Visa and MasterCard. However, New Mexicans cannot use these traditional funding methods due to the UIGEA, which is a federal banking regulation preventing banks from processing gambling transactions. Therefore, major cards tied to banks cannot be used at licensed offshore online poker sites.
Despite the UIGEA, licensed offshore online poker rooms account for these regulations and offer alternative payment acceptance methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, and money wire transfers. Withdrawals must also cirumvent the UIGEA and can be delivered to NM players via cryptocurrency, money wire transfer, or check by mail or courier.
Important NM Notes
- Legal for NM poker players to play for real money offshore
- No current legislation regarding legalized online poker in NM
- The state & tribal casinos are feuding over a variety of issues
- Tribal casinos, lottery, pari-mutuel, charity, racetracks legal
- Commercial casinos are not allowed in New Mexico
The state of New Mexico does not allow for operating an online poker business, nor any other form of online gambling at this time. There is no strong push to advocate online poker by lawmakers, nor are there plans to create a regulating body that may license a legal online poker framework in the near future. While operating an online poker site remains illegal in New Mexico under current laws, offshore online poker rooms report that New Mexicans continue to open accounts and play at their sites legally.
Future Outlook of Online Poker in New Mexico – Estimated date of legalization: 2020-2021
The following graph tracks our expected legislation of online poker in New Mexico on a state law level. It is currently already legal on a Federal level. This graph monitors the current rise or fall of expected legalization.
The New Mexico based Pojoaque Pueblo tribe has accused the federal government of seizing funds illicitly, in the latest chapter of a long dispute between the state and the tribe. The federal government grabbed a bank account owned by the Pojoaque Pueblo that...
Recent Activity
With the gambling industry so volatile in the United States and around the world, it’s difficult to predict just where New Mexico will be with its online poker legislation over the next few years. On the one hand, there are a number of issues working against the idea of regulation, including ongoing battles over the expansion of the state’s land gambling industry and a small population (just over 2 million residents) – a fact which would not allow a viable online poker industry to thrive on its own. Most importantly, however, lawmakers don’t seem to have the issue of online poker on their books, nor is there any pressure from the gambling industry to introduce internet gambling of any kind.
Free Online Poker Sites
On the other hand, New Mexico is not blind to the fact that other states have turned to online gambling to develop viable industries that contribute much needed revenue, and the state could use the income generated from an online gambling industry. In addition, New Mexico is no stranger to interstate compacts, having a number of lottery partnerships in place already. This has potential, in the long run, to regulate and create interstate online poker.
When the Department of Justice issued its opinion in December 2011, opening the door for legalized internet gambling in the United States, lawmakers in New Mexico were not alone in examining how the change of opinion[A] relating to the 1961 Wire Act would affect them. Of particular interest is how existing compacts with Native American tribes could be worked to allow the introduction of any form of online poker, gambling or lottery if the time comes.
The New Mexico Gaming Control Board, a body that has substantial clout in the state’s gambling landscape, minces no words regarding the legality of online poker. The authority’s website clearly states:[B]“Internet gambling is expressly prohibited by Federal law. This falls under 31 U.S.C.A. §5361, Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The State of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Gaming Control Board do not regulate, license, control or in ANY way sanction, endorse or approve any Internet or on-line gambling, betting activity, wagering or any aspect thereof. Any statement, reference or opinion to the contrary is wrong. Such activity is strictly prohibited and not authorized, approved or sanctioned in any manner by New Mexico regulatory authorities.”
Another personality who may be able to wield some clout in a future online poker industry in New Mexico is the former Governor Gary Johnson[C], who in 2012 and 2016 tried a presidential run and in the process tried to gain the support of online poker players. Johnson added a poker themed page on his website, attended poker related events and posted on online poker forums. When the Department of Justice shut down several online poker rooms in April 2011 (Black Friday), Johnson responded by issuing a statement: “Earlier this year, when the Department of Justice abruptly shut down a number of online poker sites and seized bank accounts, including ones holding players’ funds, a number of Governor Johnson’s supporters were outraged and brought it to his attention. Governor Johnson was similarly disturbed by the government’s actions, and the result is an on-going dialogue with the online poker community.”
In Johnson’s bid to become the President of the United States, despite his low presidential polling numbers, he promised that, “as President, I will do everything in my power to restore your right to play online poker, an ensure that such a right can never be taken away again.” He said that funds spent by only poker players was “your money” and said that “the federal government should not be involved in restricting lawful commerce that does not harm anyone.”
Finally, we look at the official stance of the governor’s office regarding a bid by tribal casinos to protect themselves from the possibility of online poker in the future. In 2013, the governor made a statement saying: “While the impact of Internet gaming is uncertain, the state believes that brick-and-mortar (tribal) facilities will provide for more jobs and better serve the interests of New Mexico economic development.”
History of Gambling in New Mexico
The Cities of Gold Casino in Pojoaque opens, becoming the first casino of importance in northern New Mexico.
The governor signs Senate Bill 853 creating the New Mexico Lottery Authority, thereby legalizing the state lottery.
Fourteen Albuquerque players claim the state’s first Powerball jackpot of $131 million.
Online Nm Poker Tournaments
Land Based Poker in New Mexico
New Mexico allows the playing of poker as long as it falls under what is considered lawful in the state. Regulated gambling facilities exist, and any gambling in unregulated frameworks in considered illegal.
Section 30-19.2[F] defines gambling (and poker by default) as, “A. Making a bet, B. entering or remaining in a gambling place with intent to make a bet, to participate in a lottery or to play a gambling device; C. conducting a lottery; or D. possessing facilities with intent to conduct a lottery.”
Further, the law goes on to define making a bet as, “a bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent on chance, even though accompanies by some skill, one stands to win or lose anything of value specified in the agreement.”
So where can poker fans play the game?
There are a number of Indian casinos in New Mexico which offer players the option of playing poker. The Buffalo Thunder Casino in Santa Fe, for example, offers an exceptional live poker room which boasts regular tournaments, late night hands, bad beat jackpots and more.
Social gambling is not allowed in New Mexico, which means that home poker games would not be considered legal under existing laws.
Gambling Laws in New Mexico
Gambling in New Mexico is overseen by the State of New Mexico Gaming Control Board, with specific laws pertaining to gambling covered by Section 30-19.2 as seen in the section above “Land Poker in New Mexico”.
Essentially, the state lottery, pari-mutuel wagering and tribal gaming is legal in New Mexico. Players will also find a wide range of casino options at commercial casinos, such as the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque which offers 140,000 square feet of Vegas style gaming action, including 2,300 slot machines and over 30 table games.
Bingo – is a game of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card conforming or symbols selected at random.
Game – under the Gaming Control Act is an activity where you play to play a game or on a slot machine, the outcome of which is based on chance and possibly some skill, to receive a prize or something of value.
Lottery – is a game of chance in which, for consideration, the player has the opportunity to win a prize, the award of which is determined by chance, even if some skill is required.
Pull Tabs – printed tickets that have a pull-tab or seal to be opened by the purchaser where a winning combination is printed on each ticket or on a separate card.
Raffle – is a game of chance conducted by drawing for prizes by chance or by selling tickets or rights to participate in such a drawing.
Sweepstakes – used to promote legitimate business objectives. Entry obtained with purchase but must also provide a no purchase necessary alternative method of entry.”
More recent New Mexico gambling news involves the approval of the state House on a 36-30 vote to allow the Navajo Nation to open three additional casinos[G]. The proposal now heads to the Senate. The compact will allow the Navajos to introduce three new casinos over the next 15 years, although the idea is opposed by other tribes which believe that the new casinos will hurt gambling industry expansion. The compact needs to be approved by the Interior Department and the Legislature before it becomes law.
Prior to 1990, when the New Mexico Governor Bruce King appointed a task force to negotiate gaming compacts, several tribes were already operating Class I and Class II gaming (mostly bingo and pull tabs). After King was defeated by Gary Johnson, gaming compacts were signed in 1995 and the first casino, the Cities of Gold Casino in Pojoaque was opened. Since then, legal battles between the state and tribes over the percentage of ‘revenue sharing’ have popped up now and then.
In mid October 2014, a federal judge in Albuquerque ruled against the Pojoaque tribe trying to obtain a new gambling compact from the Interior Department. The Pojoaque’s proposed compact would have stopped tribal revenue sharing payments to the state, allow the serving of alcohol in gambling areas, and allow the tribe to lower the gambling age in casinos from 21 to 18.
There are about 20 tribal casinos in New Mexico run by 14 tribes. To protect their interests against the possibility of a regulated online poker industry in the future, the Navajo Nation is asking for an option to stop paying the state a portion of its revenue if any form of online gambling is ever legalized. According to the Albuquerque Journal[H], “Under the proposed new compact with the Navajos, the tribe could stop making revenue-sharing payments to the state if the state authorized Internet wagering on any casino or poker games or entered a multi-state Internet gambling agreement.”
The New Mexico casino Indian Nation is made up of the following tribes: the Jicarilla Apache Nation, Mesclaero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero, Navajo Nation, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo of San Juan, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Ann, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Taos, and the Pueblo of Tesuque.
Horse racing in New Mexico is governed by the New Mexico Racing Commission[I] which exists to, “provide regulation in an equitable manner to New Mexico’s pari-mutual horseracing industry to protect the interest of wagering patrons and the State of New Mexico in a manner which promotes a climate of economic prosperity for horsemen, horse owners and racetrack management.”
Online Nm Poker Game
There are five racing tracks in New Jersey, namely Abuquerque Downs, Ruidoso Downs , Sunland Park, SunRay Gaming in Farmington and Zia Park in Hobbs.
The New Mexico Lottery[J] launched on April 27th, 1995 under the New Mexico Lottery Act. The lottery is not a state agency and is separate from the state, although it is subject to oversight by the Legislative Finance Committee. 100% of the lottery proceeds go to the Lottery Tuition Fund, with the governor and legislature deciding who gets the lottery money. Lottery tickets are purchased at grocery, gas and convenience stores and tickets are currently not sold over the internet. Players need to be at least 18 years of age to play the New Mexico Lottery.
Poker Online Game
Gambling’s definition in New Mexico has three elements – consideration, chance and prize. If any one or more of the elements are removed, it is not considered gambling. Bingo and raffles are legal as long as one of the three elements is not included. No license is required to play bingo in a senior’s citizens home when at least half of the players are over the age of 55 and no players are under the age of 18. Under laws 30-19-3 NMSA 1978[K], to conduct a bingo or raffle, a ‘qualified organization’ needs to apply for a license, if more than four bingo or raffle games are going to be held in a year. No individual or unqualified organization can conduct games of chance in a home and doing so may result in charges of a fourth degree felony. Those participating can be charged with a petty misdemeanor.
If the prize in a raffle or bingo game run by a qualified organization is worth more than $75,000, the Gaming Control Board has to be notified. Fund raisers may not include ‘casino nights’ or ‘Vegas Nights’, which are illegal under New Mexican gambling laws.
Author:Joseph Falchetti (twitter)
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