Best New Mexico Casinos – Compare Land Based Casinos in New Mexico and NM Online Casinos

New Mexico is generally considered a gambling-friendly state since its residents can pursue their luck not only on offshore casino sites but also in a couple dozen land-based casinos and racinos.

Regardless of whether you like playing online or in brick-and-mortar establishments, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Still, most people prefer offshore sites due to their vast game selection and rewarding bonuses. 

However, you should be extra careful when choosing an offshore casino, as not all of them are safe and trustworthy. With that in mind, we’ve invested a lot of effort in searching for the best online casinos in New Mexico. You can check them out on our list below.

The Best New Mexico Online Casinos List 2021

People from New Mexico are free to access all offshore sites that accept US players. Our team of experts has browsed through dozens of casino sites to find the very best online casinos in New Mexico. Here are their top choices:

1. Wild Casino — Best overall online casino in New Mexico
2. BetOnline — Best New Mexico online casino for poker
3. Bovada — Most valuable Bitcoin casino bonus
4. Ignition — Great selection of live casino games
5. BetUS — Best online casino in New Mexico for blackjack
6. Intertops — Widest range of regular promos among casinos in New Mexico
7. MyB Casino — Great choice of progressive jackpots
8. Big Spin Casino — Excellent selection of table games
9. Las Atlantis — Best mobile online casino in New Mexico
10. Red Dog — Reputable casino for poker players

Best New Mexico Online Casinos Reviewed

After carefully examining the best online casinos in New Mexico, we narrowed our top results down to five casino operators we feel you should know more about. Here are a few words about the highlights of these New Mexico casinos, including details like security, banking, game selection, bonuses, and more.

1. Wild Casino — Best Overall Online Casino in New Mexico

Wild Casino was created in 2017 and quickly established itself as one of the best options for New Mexico players. The operator holds a license from Panama and deploys all standard online security measures.

One of the main reasons Wild Casino is considered one of the best New Mexico casinos is its range of games. The website features over 250 games, which might not seem that much, but all of the games come from industry-leading studios such as BetSoft, DragonGaming, and Nucleus Gaming.

Video slots make up most of the library, but you can also find a good range of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, video poker, and other games, with limits varying between 50¢ and $7,000. Wild Casino also has a live dealer section powered by Fresh Deck Studios.

New customers will enjoy a $5,000 welcome package encompassing the first five deposits and having reasonable wagering requirements of 35x. Meanwhile, those who deposit using crypto will get a $9,000 deposit bonus.

Speaking of cryptocurrencies, you can deposit and withdraw using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and USD Coin. Other payment options include credit and debit cards, MoneyOrders, checks, bank wires, and person-to-person. The deposit limits range from $25 to $5,000 for credit cards and from $20 to $100,000 for most cryptos, with Bitcoin having a maximum deposit limit of $500,000. The withdrawal limits are between $20 and $100,000, depending on the method.

2. BetOnline — Best New Mexico Online Casino for Poker

BetOnline is a long-standing online gambling brand that has provided top-notch service to US residents since 2001. This Panama-licensed operator has one of the best New Mexico sportsbooks, but it also provides an excellent casino with loads of exciting games and rewarding bonuses.

There are over 350 games to choose from, with around 250 of them being video slots powered by established providers such as DragonGaming, Nucleus Gaming, and BetSoft. BetOnline also excels in the poker department, having one of the most versatile poker tournament selections and featuring a wide range of table and video poker games.

The table games collection consists of classics like blackjack, roulette, and craps, with the table limits of between $1 and $10,000 accommodating both low- and high-risk takers.

Fans of live dealer games can enjoy two different lobbies — Red and Black — run by Fresh Deck Studios and ViG. Here, you’ll find numerous blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and Super 6 tables running day and night.

As far as promotions go, the initial offer consists of a 100% deposit match up to $1,000 on each of the first three deposits. The minimum deposit is $25, and the wagering requirements are 30x.

The operator accepts various payment methods, including major credit and debit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, bank wires, and checks.

3. Bovada — Most Valuable Bitcoin Casino Bonus

No list of the best online casinos in New Mexico can be complete without mentioning Bovada. This renowned gambling platform has been earning the trust of US players since 2011 by offering great games, even better bonuses, relatively quick cashouts, and high-level security. Bovada currently operates under the Curacao license.

Players can choose between 150 video slots from providers like RealTime Gaming, Rival Gaming, and Betsoft. Many of the slots feature progressive jackpots, some of which extend past the million-dollar mark.

There are also a few dozen table games, with most of them being different variations of blackjack, followed by roulette, baccarat, poker, craps, dice games, and Andar Bahar. There’s also a good variety of video poker games. 

Table limits start as low as $1, while high-rollers can enjoy wagering up to $500 or $1,000 per hand, depending on the game. The live dealer lobby features more than 30 blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and Super 6 tables, with limits reaching up to $3,000 per round.

The first deposit bonus in Bovada is a 100% match up to $1,000 and can be unlocked using the bonus code CAWELCOME100. The subsequent two deposits come with the same bonus, only this time you need to use the code BV2NDCWB. If you decide to deposit using Bitcoin, you’ll get a 125% bonus up to $1,250 for each of the first three deposits, using the code BTCCWB1250 for the first and BTC2NDCWB for the following two deposits.

The wagering requirements are 25x and 50x for the second and third Bitcoin deposit bonuses. Apart from cryptos, Bovada accepts payments made by credit cards, vouchers, and MatchPay.

4. Ignition — Great Selection of Live Casino Games

Ignition Casino opened its online doors in 2016. Still, despite being significantly younger than most New Mexico casinos on this list, it quickly built a stellar reputation and amassed thousands of US customers.

Ignition is licensed by Curacao, giving it a worldwide reach. It features a solid range of slots, table games, video poker, and live dealer tables while offering competitive bonuses and promotions.

Betsoft, RTG, and Rival support most of the games found on the website, in addition to ViG powering the live dealer lobby. There are more than 250 games to choose from, including a great selection of progressive jackpot slots. The betting limits range from $1 to $3,000 for table games and go up to $5,000 on certain live dealer games.

The casino welcome bonus is 100% up to $1,000 for traditional deposit methods and 150% up to $1,500 for Bitcoin. In addition, both promotions feature an extra bonus for poker. The wagering requirements are just 25x, which is lower than most New Mexico online casinos.

Ignition accepts cryptocurrencies, credit cards, and vouchers for deposits, while withdrawals can be requested via Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, wire transfer, or check.

5. BetUS — Best online casino in New Mexico for blackjack

BetUS is one of the longest-standing online casinos in the world, having been established back in 1994. It is licensed by Curacao and hosts a myriad of video slots, table games, live dealer games, and more.

The slots library consists of nearly 200 titles coming from DragonGaming, Betsoft, Nucleus, and other industry-leading providers. Fans of table games will find good variety as well, especially for blackjack, although the table limits range only from $1 to $100.

The regular welcome bonus consists of a 150% match up to $3,000 (bonus code: CAS150), while the Bitcoin welcome offer promises a 250% match up to $5,000 (bonus code: CAS250). The rollover is 30x, and the minimum deposit is $50. It’s worth mentioning that you can also receive casino bonuses through the welcome sports betting offer.

BetUS accepts credit cards, cash transfers, bank wires, and four different cryptocurrencies. The minimum deposit is $10, while the withdrawal limits range from $50 to $5,000.

Top New Mexico Online Casinos — Bonus & Games Comparison

Almost all available online casinos in New Mexico have a welcome offer, but these offers can vary quite a lot in terms of value, compatible payment methods, wagering requirements, minimum deposits, and other aspects. That’s why we created this neat table that will help you compare welcome bonuses between top-rated New Mexico casinos.

New Mexico Online Casino Comparison — Payment Methods

Another critical thing to consider when comparing online casinos in New Mexico is how they handle banking. Below, you’ll see a list of payment methods, fees, and processing times on our recommended casinos in New Mexico.

What Games Can You Play at Online New Mexico Casinos?

Which of the top legal online casinos in New Mexico you end up choosing should depend on which games you like playing. All of our recommended operators show great versatility in their game libraries, but there are still some differences between them.

That said, we will divide this section into the most popular game categories and tell you about the best New Mexico casinos for each one.

Blackjack

Blackjack is the most popular table game, which is why casinos usually feature more than a few variants. On that note, BetUS seems to be the best blackjack casino, offering around 30 blackjack tables in both RNG and live dealer form, including rarer variants such as Super 7, 21 Burn, and Blackjack Switch.

If you just wish to play classic blackjack and are more interested in higher table limits, you should consider Wild Casino or BetOnline, as both feature tables with limits up to $10,000 per hand.

Roulette

New Mexico online casinos also show great versatility when it comes to roulette. Our top pick is Ignition, as it offers seven roulette games, including American and European roulette. Another notable mention on the list of the best roulette casino sites is Wild Casino. Apart from its Roulette Tournament, this operator also hosts seven roulette tables, some of which have maximum limits going up to $10,000.

Poker

Several of our listed online casinos in New Mexico specialize in poker, including Bovada, BetOnline, Ignition, and Red Dog. Each of these sites has top-notch poker software and regularly offers poker tournaments and cash games.

If we had to single out one of these great poker operators, we’d have to go with Bovada, as it features tournaments for all popular variants and has some of the highest tournament prizes that can sometimes go up to a million dollars.

Video Slots

All of the top online casinos in New Mexico give you hundreds of video slots to choose from. Still, while the versatility of video slots is good on almost every casino site, they can differ in terms of providers and jackpots.

Many would agree that Intertops is among the best New Mexico casinos for playing progressive slots. The casino’s most popular games like Aztec’s Millions and Cleopatra’s Gold commonly feature multi-million-dollar jackpots.

Meanwhile, BetUS has the most extensive range of video slots, featuring the best products of well-known gaming studios such as DragonGaming, Betsoft, Nucleus, Mobitaz, DGS, and the like.

If you wish to discover new games, you should stick to Wild Casino, known for promoting the latest releases from top-level providers. Another reason to play here is the slot-specific promotions like Game of the Week and The Ultimate Spin-Off, which allow you to win prizes of up to $1,000.

Playing Live Dealer Games at New Mexico Casinos Online

Live dealer games have grown immensely popular in recent years, and all top online casinos in New Mexico look to have at least a couple of dozen of these games in their libraries. That said, here’s a table covering the live dealer offers on NM casino sites.

How to Play at a New Mexico Casino

Starting to play in online casinos in New Mexico is a straightforward process. All you need to do is create an account, deposit some money, and you’ll be ready to go. If you’ve never registered an online gambling account before, here’s how it usually goes.

Step 1: Register an Account

We will use BetOnline as an example, but be sure that the registration process is practically the same regardless of which casino you choose. To start, click the Join Now button in the top right corner.

Step 2: Fill Out the Registration Form

The registration form will require you to share some of your personal details so the operator can identify you. Don’t worry, as all of these details will be kept safe. Here’s what you need to provide:

• Full name
• Email
• Password
• Country
• Zipcode
• Phone number
• Date of birth

Step 3: Complete a Deposit

After you’ve registered an account, you’ll need to fund it with some real money. To do that, head over to the casino’s deposit page and choose one of the available deposit methods. From there, just input all the required details and your deposit amount and confirm the payment.

Step 4: Browse the Game Library and Start Playing

The deposit should be completed almost instantly, after which you can start using the money to play your favorite games. Browse the casino’s library, choose a game, wait for it to load, and begin playing.

Is Gambling in New Mexico Allowed?

Gambling in New Mexico is regulated by the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. All gambling activities in the state are prohibited unless expressly permitted by the New Mexico Criminal Code, 30-19-1 thru 30-19-15 NMSA 1978.

In other words, New Mexico allows gambling, but only in specific venues, namely those operating on Native American reservations (Indian Gaming Compact). Bingo and some horse racing bets are permitted as well.

While sports betting technically isn’t legal, some land-based casinos have launched sportsbooks in recent years, relying on the fact that sports betting isn’t explicitly illegal under the state law.

The minimum gambling age in New Mexico is 21 for casino gambling and 18 for pari-mutuel betting and lottery.

Is Online Gambling in New Mexico Legal?

New Mexico doesn’t mention online gambling in its law books, and because the law does not explicitly permit it, many deem it illegal. However, this definition is too broad and left to interpretation, which is why online gambling in New Mexico falls into a “grey area.”

This means that while online casinos aren’t specifically legal, they aren’t illegal either, which is why the residents of New Mexico can freely access offshore gambling sites and play there without the fear of being prosecuted or punished.

The government is more concerned about shutting down local sites that offer online gambling games to their residents. If a casino site operates outside of their jurisdiction (which all of our recommended sites do), they won’t bother doing anything.

In other words, you can feel free to access any offshore gambling site from New Mexico.

History of Gambling in New Mexico

The first traces of legal gambling in New Mexico date back to the 1930s in the form of pari-mutuel wagering, but the state only officially launched horse racing in 1946 with the opening of La Mesa Park.

Nothing much changed until the 1980s, when the pari-mutuel industry was hit hard by the legalization of this type of gambling in neighboring Texas. In an effort to revitalize the gambling industry, New Mexico allowed slot machines on race tracks in the 90s, legalized the lottery, and allowed the establishment of Native American casinos.

Here are all the pivotal years that shaped the history of gambling in the Land of Enchantment:

• 1946: La Mesa Park in Raton opens and allows pari-mutuel wagering.
• 1988: The Federal Government passes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
• 1990: Governor Bruce King negotiates gaming compacts with a couple of Native tribes.
• 1994: The Sandia Resort and Casino becomes the first official land-based casino in New Mexico.
• 1995: Thirteen compacts are signed between the State and the Tribes.
• 1996: The New Mexico Lottery is launched.
• 1997: The New Mexico Gaming Control Board is established to regulate all gambling activities in the state.
• 1998: Slot machines and casino-style gambling are added to New Mexico racetracks.
• 1999: The State Legislature introduces the Compact Negotiation Act that formalizes the negotiation process between the State and the New Mexico Tribes.
• 2001: New gaming compacts are approved by the Legislature and signed by nearly all Tribes.
• 2007: Nine Tribes sign amendments to the 2001 gaming compacts.

New Mexico Gambling Revenues

Despite being hit by the pandemic, the gambling industry in New Mexico had a reasonably steady 2020 in terms of revenue share. The total amount paid by Tribal casinos in the last fiscal year amounted to $24.8 million — revenue from both Tribal casinos and commercial racinos contributes to the state’s General Fund.

Land Based Casinos in New Mexico: New Mexico Casino Locations

There are a total of 23 Indian casinos in New Mexico, owned and operated by 14 different tribes and five different racinos. All these gambling establishments are scattered around the state, so finding legal casinos in New Mexico near you should not be difficult.

That said, let’s go over some of the best casinos in different areas of the state.

Casinos in Albuquerque New Mexico

Being the biggest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque is home to several high-end casino establishments, with Isleta Resort & Casino being the most prominent.

Isleta Resort & Casino

Address: 11000 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87105

Palace West is a luxurious casino resort located in Isleta, just minutes away from Palace West Casino and near the ABQ International Airport. The 100,000 sq/ft casino features over 1,700 video slots and video poker machines with various denominations, together with 25 table games, a 24/7 poker room, and a bingo lounge.

Other Casinos Near Albuquerque New Mexico

• Palace West Casino: 2 NM-45, Albuquerque, NM 87105
• Route 66 Casino: 14500 Central Ave SW, Rio Puerco, Albuquerque, NM 87121
• Sandia Resort & Casino: 30 Rainbow Rd, Albuquerque, NM 87113

Casinos in Gallup New Mexico

Gallup is located in McKinley County, which currently only features a single casino — Fire Rock Casino.

Fire Rock Casino

Address: 249 U.S. Rte 66, Church Rock, NM 87311

Fire Rock Casino opened its doors in 2008, and it is owned by the Navajo Nation. It hosts over 500 video slot and video poker machines, as well as 10 table games on which you can play blackjack, Spanish 21, roulette, and craps. Fire Rock Casino also operates a sportsbook.

Hobbs New Mexico Casinos

Unfortunately, there are no casinos in Hobbs nor the entire Lea County. If you wish to visit casinos closest to Hobbs, you’ll have to travel west towards Otero county, where you’ll find the prominent Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino.

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino

Address: 287 Carrizo Canyon Rd, Mescalero, NM 88340

Inn of the Mountain Gods is a gorgeous casino resort located in Mescalero and operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe. This 38,000 square foot casino works around the clock and offers high-quality entertainment through more than 840 video slots and video poker machines, 35 table games, a poker room with Texas Hold’em and Omaha, a bingo room, and a William Hill sportsbook.

Other Casinos in Otero County

• Casino Apache Travel Center: S High St, Ruidoso, NM 88345

Casinos in Las Cruces New Mexico

Las Cruces is another city in New Mexico that doesn’t have any gambling establishments. Those wishing to try their luck on casino gambling can visit the locations in the neighboring Otero County mentioned above.

Casinos in Taos New Mexico

Taos County is home to a single casino called Taos Mountain Casino, although you can find many casino resorts in neighboring counties. Nevertheless, if Taos Mountain Casino is your closest option, you should definitely visit it, and here’s why.

Taos Mountain Casino

Address: 700 Veterans Hwy, Taos, NM 87571

Owned by Pueblo of Taos, Taos Mountain Casino is a relatively small gambling establishment featuring around 200 slot machines of various denominations, as well as four table games. The casino works until 10 p.m. on workdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. It is entirely smoke-free.

Santa Fe New Mexico Casinos

Those located near Santa Fe can find several casinos near the city and across the county. Here is everything you need to know about them.

Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino

Address: 30 Buffalo Thunder Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87506

Hilton Buffalo Thunder is located just 15 minutes from Santa Fe Plaza and offers the most extensive collection of casino games in the area. This 24/7 casino has a gaming area of 61,000 square feet, in which you can find over 1,200 video slots ranging from penny slots to $100 machines. There are also 18 table games running blackjack, roulette, and craps, along with a sportsbook and a racebook.

Other Casinos in Santa Fe New Mexico

• Cities of Gold Casino: 10 Cities of Gold Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87506
• Tesuque Casino: 7 Tesuque Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87506

Casinos in Carlsbad New Mexico

Carlsbad is located in Eddy Country that currently doesn’t have any casinos. If you wish to find quality gambling action, you will need to travel west to Otero Country, where you’ll find a couple of casinos.

Casinos Near Red River New Mexico

If you are located near Red River, the closest casino you can find is the Taos Mountain Casino.

Casinos in Santa Rosa New Mexico

Santa Rosa is a beautiful and peaceful place, but, unfortunately, there are no casinos near it. If you are located in or near Santa Rosa, you’ll have to travel to Albuquerque or Valencia Country to find high-end casino resorts.

New Mexico Casinos Near Me: Top New Mexico Casinos List

The Nex Mexico casinos map can be hard to follow with so many casinos scattered around the state. That’s why we made this neat table where you can see all the casinos’ names and their respective addresses.

When Will New Mexico Casinos Reopen?

Many people ask the question, “are casinos open in New Mexico?”. The COVID-19 restrictions forced many New Mexico casinos to close their doors. However, with vaccination coming along, New Mexico casinos reopened in March of 2021. The so-called “soft reopening” allowed certain casinos to operate with limited working times and capacity.

Almost all casinos are open in New Mexico today, with restrictions weakening since March. If you wonder what casinos are open in New Mexico right now, you’ll have to search for each casino and visit their official websites to see their updated working times.

What Casinos Are Open in New Mexico?

As discussed earlier, all New Mexico casinos are now open, but some operate at a limited capacity and altered hours. As the rules regarding pandemic restrictions continue to change, we will surely see more alteration in the way New Mexico casinos operate. Luckily, things seem to be changing for the better, and there are already some casinos that are back to their usual business.

Land Based Casinos vs. Online Casinos in New Mexico

The residents of New Mexico are spoiled for choice when it comes to options for both land-based and online casino gambling. 

While there are plenty of land-based casinos throughout the state offering thrilling live action and high-end accommodation, many people choose to play in the best online casinos in New Mexico instead, and the reasons are pretty obvious.

If there are no casinos near your home, you’ll save a lot of time and money by simply accessing one of the top New Mexico casinos on the web. Not only is playing on these sites more convenient, but they usually offer a bigger selection of games and more flexible betting limits.

The most significant advantage of online casinos is bonuses, which can’t be found in land-based establishments. Your initial deposit might get doubled or even tripled on some casino sites, allowing you to extend your bankroll and get a better shot at making money.

Lastly, a lot of New Mexico brick-and-mortar casinos don’t operate non-stop. In contrast, online casinos are open all day and night.

Conclusion: Gambling in New Mexico

All things considered, New Mexico is a gambling-friendly state. A couple of dozen Indian casinos are there to satisfy your need for live action, while offshore online casinos provide a safe haven to those wishing to play from the comfort of their home.

Remember to check out our list of the best legal online casinos in New Mexico, where you’ll find plenty of thrilling games and rewarding bonuses.

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