There are many legal gambling options for New Mexico residents, but it is a good idea to get a grasp on the legal language so you can be sure that your gambling pursuits are within the federal/state regulations. The laws can be complicated for non-professionals to understand, but summarizing them is simple, and comprehending them is even easier.
In this article, we will illustrate what the gambling laws say; giving you a clear perspective of what is allowable in New Mexico, and which legal gambling sites that accept New Mexico players are permissible to use. We will go over the federal and state laws that surround gambling, and after reading, you will become aware of many legal gambling opportunities that you might not have known about. You will learn about the many legal online gambling sites for New Mexico residents, as well as some land-based options. So get ready to dip your toe in the shallow but expansive waters that make up gambling laws.
The New Mexico state laws regarding gambling are very lenient. They are similar to most states in that they do not mention sports betting or online gambling. This is because the UIGEA and PASPA limit both forms of gambling, but do not restrict players from using the many online gambling sites that function overseas.
The state policy is easy to comprehend, and we will shed light on the sections that apply most to New Mexico residents. The state laws are there to protect the average gambler from criminal betting operations, such as illegal bookies and underground poker rooms. Let’s take a look at the New Mexico statutes.
Section 30-19-5 - This section restricts the dealing of illegal gambling devices (an unlicensed gambling device, such as a slot machine or a poker table) to unlicensed persons or establishments. By taking out the middle man (the dealer), the law limits the options available to criminals for purchasing gambling equipment. This helps protect New Mexico residents from the proliferation of underground gambling rackets.
Section 30-19-8 - This section gives the state the authority to strap an unlawful gambling establishment with a public nuisance clause. Games of poker or betting on sports with friends at someone’s home will be fine, but this law can affect the owner of an establishment if the house is taking a cut. This is just more reason to use the many legal online gambling sites for New Mexico players, instead of getting involved in independent gambling rings.
Section 60-2E - This is the Gaming Control Act, in which New Mexico authorized regulated casino gambling in the state. This addendum allows Indian and state licensed casinos to function on land, giving the player a few real-world options when it comes to casino games. The legal online gambling sites for New Mexico players are where the best action is at, and they include sports betting and no-limit poker.
Section 30-19-13 - This section punishes bribery as a fourth degree felony. This helps protects the average gambler from bookies that are often involved with organized crime. The best idea is to avoid the criminal elements, and use any of the legal online gambling sites that are available for New Mexico residents. These sites do not carry the threat of extortion or racketeering that illegal bookies and underground gambling rings do.
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The important thing to understand about all federal laws is that while they contain strong language against the facilitation of online gambling, none of the laws target players. This means that no mere users of gambling sites will be prosecuted for joining or participating with one.
Wire Act – The Federal Wire Act was the first law to regulate gambling, and targets sports betting in particular. During the early 20th century, organized crime injected itself into the gambling world insidiously. The Wire Act bans the use of wire communication devices involved with gambling, successfully eliminating one of the main tools used by criminals to transport funds. This Act helps protect average gamblers from nefarious business practices, and racketeering.
PASPA – The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) 0f 1996 further regulates sports betting. The PASPA deems sports betting a “national problem” because of the criminals that take advantage of bookies and underground betting rackets. The Act disallows sports betting in every state except for Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon, but there are still plenty of options for New Mexico residents. The many legal online sportsbooks for New Mexico players that function overseas are permissible to use, and safe.
UIGEA – The last major law affecting gambling is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, which specifically regulates online gambling. This is the law that confuses people the most, as its language can be tough to decipher. The UIGEA does NOT ban online gambling for New Mexico residents. The UIGEA only disallows the facilitation of online gambling establishments in most of the US. This means that you will not find an online gambling venue in your hometown, but the numerous sites that function overseas are legal for you to use, as thousands of New Mexico residents are doing every day.
The age for legal gambling for New Mexico residents is 21. You will need to be this age or older to use any of the land-based casinos in the state. Most of the legal online gambling sites for New Mexico players only require you to be 18, but we suggest following the state’s age guidelines when signing up. The best advice is, always go with the higher number when looking at the online/state gambling ages.
We hope you now have a better understanding of the laws that affect gamblers in New Mexico. A few land-based casinos offer great casino action, as well as horseracing and specialty games. The best action, however, is on the many legal online gambling sites for New Mexico residents that offer sportsbooks, no-limit poker, and giant virtual casinos. These sites have the fastest lines on every major sport, populated poker rooms, and unique virtual casinos that will fill you every gambling need.
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