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New Mexico was set to become the first state west of the Mississippi to legalize sports betting Tuesday October 16 following a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court to abolish decades long prohibition of such gambling.
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Nevada had been the only state offering full service sports betting prior to the May ruling as it was exempt from the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (Pub.L. 102–559), also known as PASPA or the Bradley Act.
In recent months, sportsbooks have opened in New Jersey, Delaware and Mississippi. West Virginia and Rhode Island are expected to have sportsbooks up and running in time for the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl 53. Pennsylvania will likely have sports betting in time for March Madness. Several dozen online betting sites, operating overseas, have been accessible to US citizens over the last two decades as well.
New Mexico sports betting will kick off at the Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo, just outside of Albuquerque and within easy access of Santa Fe. Unlike most states, New Mexico's unique relationship with the Tribal nations allows them to operate sportsbooks without the need to amend current local laws.
"There will be action taken on the colleges, so the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State — those will be available to wager," said John Salerno, director of operations for USBookmaking, which will run the Santa Ana Star sportsbook.
About the only thing people won't be able to bet on is high school events. Everything else, he said, is fair game.
"You can get the same thing there as you would at any Las Vegas sports book," Salerno said, adding his company has been working with Santa Ana to train the staff on how to write tickets, take wagers and pay off winners.
It was not immediately known at what time the first sports bet will be taken.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
