Online poker New Mexico ᐈ top legal real money NM poker sites in 2023
Can I play online poker in New Mexico? The answer is yes!
Is it legal to play real money online poker in New Mexico? The answer to this is also yes!
|
1.1. Ignition 1.2. SB Poker 1.3. BetOnline 1.4. Bovada 1.5. Americas Cardroom 1.6. CoinPoker 1.7. Everygame 1.8. SwCPoker 1.9. Nitrobetting1.10. Alternate Sites
3.1. Laws 3.2. Live Gambling 3.3. Regulated iPoker? 3.4. Gambling History 3.5. Famous Players
If you're looking for New Mexico online poker, then you'll be happy to know that there are several leading New Mexico poker rooms for you to choose from. Real money online poker in New Mexico isn't an activity that the authorities spend any time fighting against. As long as you play privately on your own computer, no legal action will be taken against you.
The Land of Enchantment does allow licensed live poker, such as that spread in the Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino in Mescalero and the Sandia Poker Room in Albuquerque. Playing online might be a better option, though, because the variety of games offered and the broad range of stakes present at the top online sites trump anything to be found in brick-and-mortar card games. Online NM poker rooms are also more convenient than New Mexico poker rooms because you don't have to get dressed, drive to another part of the state, and wait around for a seat to open up.
There have never been any instances that we could dig up wherein an individual player was targeted by the laws on the books because that person gambled online. Law enforcement prioritizes going after illegal offline games held within the state, and it reserves the most serious penalties for those actually in charge of running these gambling activities. You won't encounter any legal obstacles when logging onto your favorite site and playing your cards for all they're worth.
What Online Poker Sites Can I Play in New Mexico?
The online poker operators that serve New Mexicans range from the small to the large, the stingy to the generous, the shady to the prestigious. Rather than choosing one of them at random, it's far more useful to look over our hand-picked selections of the premier internet card sites for NM residents. We've evaluated all entities in the market to narrow the list down to those that are reputable and honest, and they all pay out winnings rapidly and without fuss. These poker websites are your ticket to playing poker in New Mexico in mere minutes, safely, and from the comfort of your home.
IGNITION
- BONUS:
- 150% up to $1,500
- ★★★★★
- 4.7 / 5
Of all New Mexico poker sites, Ignition has the most player volume and therefore the greatest number of simultaneously active tables. These cash games include No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, Pot Limit Omaha/8, and Limit Hold'em. There's also fast-fold Zone Poker, standard SNGs and lottery-style Jackpot Sit & Go, and a bevy of tournaments each week along with series promising eight figures in prize money a few times per year.
The Ignition Poker client runs on Windows and Mac systems, and in addition, there's a web-based interface that's ideal for mobile customers. The first deposit bonus is a 150% up to $1,500 match as long as you deposit in crypto-currency, and there's a similar bonus for the casino as well.
SB POKER
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $1,000
- ★★★★★
- 4.5 / 5
BEST NM ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BAD BEAT JACKPOTS
- NETWORK:
- CHICO
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
SB Poker has PLO, PLO/8, 6+ Hold'em, and regular NL Hold'em tables. In this latter format, and also in fast-fold Boost pools, you have the chance to win a portion of a Bad Beat Jackpot that has occasionally reached seven figures in the past. Other games offered here are normal sit n' gos, lottery-inspired Windfall Poker, and multi-table tournaments. Daily and weekly leaderboards hand out free money on a regular basis.
SB Poker is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS. The first deposit bonus for poker is 100% up to $1,000.
BETONLINE
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $1,000
- ★★★★★
- 4.4 / 5
BEST NM ONLINE POKER SITE FOR MOBILE GAMING
- NETWORK:
- CHICO
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
BetOnline is a partner of SB Poker, and so the poker action at the two rooms is virtually identical. And at BOL, you can access this poker action through a slick mobile interface. This mobile platform contains almost all the games from the desktop version, and the software is polished and easy to use. Multi-tabling on your phone or tablet is even supported. It runs on both Android and iOS machines.
Of course, if you would rather play on a computer, you can do so on a Windows PC or a Mac OS system. Whichever hardware you select, you'll be able to redeem a 100% up to $1,000 poker bonus.
BOVADA
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $500
- ★★★★★
- 4.2 / 5
BEST NM ONLINE POKER SITE FOR SPORTS BETTORS
- NETWORK:
- PAIWANGLUO
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
Bovada is part of the same network as Ignition, and so its poker room is almost identical to its sister site's. However, Bovada has a sportsbook, which makes it more appealing to those who enjoy playing poker and betting on sports. Besides MLB, NCAA, NFL, NHL, NBA, and other athletic leagues, Bovada also lists contests for tennis, soccer, handball, eSports, political elections, and many others. There's a racebook too, allowing you to place your straight and exotic wagers on horse races around the world.
You can install Bovada on a PC or Mac. Additionally, there's a web-based platform that works well on iOS and Android smart devices. Bovada's poker bonus is 100% up to $500, and you can also claim up to $750 in the sportsbook and $3,750 in the casino.
AMERICAS CARDROOM
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $2,000
- ★★★★★
- 4.1 / 5
Americas Cardroom is an excellent destination for tournaments. It hosts the recurring VENOM event, which, with its $5+ million guarantee, is the largest MTT open to Americans. Even its normal weekly tourney schedule contains $12 million in guarantees, including a $1 million tournament each Sunday. Besides this, there is a wide array of cash games at stakes both high and low, fast-fold Blitz games, SNGs, and randomized-prize Jackpot Poker.
ACR has software for both Macs and PCs. There's a mobile web app too, but it is limited in the formats of games it contains. Use our exclusive Americas Cardroom bonus code PRB10FREE for a $10 no deposit free bankroll, then make your deposit for a 100% up to $2,000 bonus.
COIN POKER
- BONUS:
- 100% up to $700
- ★★★★★
- 4.0 / 5
Crypto-focused poker rooms have been proliferating of late, and CoinPoker is the largest of them all. The tables here are denominated in Tether (USDT), but you can deposit and withdraw with several other cryptos too, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. This is one of the few sites for 5 Card PLO and Open Face Chinese although the more standard NLHE and normal, 4 Card PLO are more popular. There are weekly leaderboards too to reward dedicated grinders.
CoinPoker software works with Windows PCs, Macs, Android, and iOS devices. New depositors can get three different bonuses here including a 100% bonus worth up to $100, a 100% bonus worth up to $300, and a 100% bonus worth up to $700. You can also choose to obtain 33% weekly rakeback, as long as you hold a balance in CHP, CoinPoker's crypto coin.
EVERYGAME
- BONUS:
- 200% up to $1,000
- ★★★★★
- 3.8 / 5
BEST NM ONLINE POKER SITE FOR PROMOTIONS
- NETWORK:
- HORIZON
- EXTRAS
- CASINOS, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
One of the smaller rooms on our list, Everygame is nevertheless an interesting option for New Mexico online poker because of the number of promotions it has active. Every customer who signs up through our links will get 36% rakeback, the opportunity to compete in weekly rake races for more free cash, reload bonuses every few months, cash credits through the loyalty program, and other permanent and time-sensitive deals.
Everygame's standard poker software works only on Windows systems, but there's an Instant Play website that lets you play on a smartphone, tablet, Mac, or other computing device. When you make your initial deposit, you'll get a 200% up to $1,000 poker bonus and 25 free casino spins.
SWCPOKER
- BONUS:
- NONE
- ★★★★★
- 3.6 / 5
Fans of Razz, Open Face Chinese, Courchevel, 2 – 7 Triple Draw Lowball, mixed games, and other niche variants often have a hard time finding games online, but this is not the case at SwCPoker. Of course, you'll also find the standard complement of NLHE, PLO, and PLO/8 tables too. SwC is descended from the original BTC poker room, Seals With Clubs, and all cashier functions and gameplay here are conducted in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.
You can play SwCPoker on Windows, Mac OS, iOS, or Android. There's no welcome bonus, but up to 50% rakeback is possible based on your lifetime volume of play.
NITROBETTING
- BONUS:
- 100% up to 25 mBTC
- ★★★★★
- 3.3 / 5
BEST NM ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BITCOIN USERS
- NETWORK:
- STANDALONE
- EXTRAS
- CASINO, SPORTSBOOK
- MORE INFO
- READ REVIEW
Nitrogbetting maintains an exclusive focus on Bitcoin and Bitcoin alone as its crypto-currency of choice. It is this single-minded focus that is perhaps responsible for its speedy payout times often measured in minutes or hours. The roster of games is: NLHE, LHE, Crazy Hold'em, 6+ Hold'em, and PLO. Most of the action is concentrated in the ring game section, but there are a few sit n' goes and tournaments to sample too.
Nitrobetting opens up right in your web browser, and it is therefore compatible with every system that has modern browsing software. The first deposit poker bonus is 100% up to 25mBTC.
ALTERNATIVE POKER SITES
- BlackChip Poker – 100% up to $2,000 bonus – 27% Rakeback
- Juicy Stakes Poker – 200% up to $1,000 bonus – 36% Rakeback
- True Poker – 100% up to $2,000 bonus – 27% Rakeback
Selecting a Good Site for Online Poker in New Mexico
As you can see, there are a few trustworthy internet poker rooms that would be happy to add you to their customer base. It can be a chore to compare all their selling points against one another and determine the right one to call your online home. There aren't any set-in-stone rules for making your decision, but we do have a number of general criteria that you can use to help steer yourself in the right direction.
+ If you enjoy multi-table tournaments with huge prize pools, then Americas Cardroom, Ignition, and Bovada have tourneys to satisfy you.
+ If you relish the nonstop pace of the fast-fold format, then Ignition and Bovada's Zone Poker, ACR's Blitz, and SB Poker and BOL's Boost allow you to see hundreds of hands per hour.
+ If you have your eyes set on the largest possible welcome bonus, then ACR and its $2,000 maximum should be enough for you.
+ If continuous rakeback payments seem like a good idea to you, then check out Everygame and its 36% deal.
+ If you're a SNG fan, then the sheer number of varieties present at Americas Cardroom, Ignition, and Bovada is sure to appeal to you.
+ If you're a Mac or mobile user, then SB Poker, BetOnline, Ignition, and Bovada have compatible software that's smooth and feature-rich.
+ If a robust promotional lineup is what you feel you deserve as a player, then Everygame and Americas Cardroom are probably your best bets.
Online Poker Deposits and Cashouts
Most poker rooms that conduct business over the internet support credit cards for deposits and checks for withdrawals. Each firm also has a number of other payment methods that it uses, but these vary from place to place. You'll be fine with credit cards and checks, but you may be subject to certain fees and delays when it's time to receive your payouts.
You can avoid these hassles by conducting all your money transfers using the virtual digital currency, Bitcoin. It allows for the rapid movement of cash with low fees. If you'd like to learn more about this cryptocurrency, then consult our guide to using BTC. All of the online organizations that we've pointed you toward support Bitcoin.
Registering an Online Poker Account in Another State?
If you are lucky enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc, you may have other online poker options available to you. Here are a list of the states that border New Mexico and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah. If you have a secondary residence in another part of the country, then our page on U.S. online poker may interest you. It contains an overview of all the reputable sites that Americans can play at as well as links to our reviews of site options for all 50 states.
If you've found this page informative, then you might want to share it with the people you know. There's a lot of ignorance on the subject of online poker in New Mexico, but you can help spread the word about the reliable options for this game that are available.
Facts About New Mexico Poker and Gambling
Almost every state in the country has its own peculiarities and things it does differently when it comes to gambling and poker. We've collected below a lot of information about New Mexico's poker and gaming scene for your enlightenment.
New Mexico Online Poker Legalities
The state gambling laws are quite strict in New Mexico. They're contained in Chapter 30 of the New Mexico Statutes, Article 19. Getting down to business, we see in 30-19-2 how the state treats gambling:
Gambling consists of:
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.
Whoever commits gambling is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
Providing further clarification is the definition of what a bet is, which is given in 30-19-1:
B. "bet" means a bargain in which the parties agree that, dependent upon chance, even though accompanied by some skill, one stands to win or lose anything of value specified in the
agreement.
This wording “dependent upon chance, even though accompanied by some skill” could be interpreted to include poker although it could contrarily be argued that games in which skill predominates aren't covered by this language. There is an enumeration of exceptions that don't count as a bet, such as legitimate business transactions, contests of skill, speed, strength, or endurance, lotteries, and “betting otherwise permitted by law.”
If poker falls into the grouping of "contests of skill," then it's not counted as gambling, and there are pretty convincing arguments that it should be so treated. We poker players aren't alone in thinking that skill is the dominant factor in the outcomes of poker games: In 2012, in U.S. vs. DiCristina, Judge Weinstein explained why poker is a game of skill, not chance.
This last category of "betting otherwise permitted by law" is why NM hosts countless gambling enterprises notwithstanding its unambiguous statutes prohibiting most forms of wagering. The organizations that legally offer gambling services are under the supervision of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board as stipulated by the relevant sections of the law with only very limited exceptions.
When it comes to online wagering on card games, there's nothing specifically mentioning it in the NM statutes. However, the Gaming Control Board says on its website:
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.
This is a bit misleading. It's not the case that internet gambling is prohibited by the federal government and is therefore illegal in New Mexico. It would be more accurate to say that if the state doesn't allow the activity, then this would thereby bring the enforcement mechanisms of the federal UIGEA into effect.
Now, when it comes to actually punishing illicit forms of real-money gaming, the authorities are going after the ones actually operating the games, not regular players. Though it is theoretically possible for you to get in minor legal trouble for playing online poker, depending on how the powers-that-be interpret the statutes we've discussed above, we have been unable to turn up any records of any arrests ever having been made for this reason in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, or any other city or town in the state.
Most of the raids involving illegal gambling charges deal with people who are managing unlicensed physical facilities for playing cards or engaging in other types of betting transactions. They are usually charged with additional crimes, including felonies, beyond the simple petty misdemeanor that the state calls gambling.
The question of whether or not online card games are illegal in New Mexico is thus an academic one. You won't be penalized at all for joining a virtual poker game.
B&M Gambling Scene in New Mexico
For a small state, New Mexico has a surprisingly comprehensive menu of gambling activities for its residents to partake in. There's a state lottery, and charitable gaming, like bingo and raffles, abounds. Five racetrack-based racinos and nearly two dozen tribal casinos on Indian land beckon.
Sports betting is the latest wagering pastime to hit The Land of Enchantment. Although no specific legislation was passed to permit this activity, several of the gaming tribes opened up retail sportsbooks on the understanding that their existing tribal compacts already permitted the activity.
A handful of NM tribal casinos had poker rooms, none of them especially large, but most of them closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and only a few have since reopened. The largest venue for live card games in the state is now the poker room at Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque. It has 14 tables and runs $3/$6 Limit Hold'em and higher, $1/$3 and $2/$5 NL Hold'em, and $4/$8 Omaha Hi-Lo. There are a few small tournaments each week with buyins less than $100.
Promotions include a bad beat jackpot, cash payments after playing a certain number of hours, and spins of a prize wheel for qualifying high hands.
New Mexico Regulated iPoker?
While the authorities in the Cactus State have shown a willingness to tolerate many forms of regulated cash betting, we can't really say that they've ever expressed any enthusiasm for online real-money gaming. Former governor Gary Johnson was an exception, and he spoke out in favor of the game while running for President of the United States as a Libertarian in 2012 and 2016. However, Johnson is no longer involved in politics, either at the federal or state level, and so his views have no more impact on potential NM online poker legalization than do those of any other private citizen.
Furthermore, there are powerful interests opposed to any scheme to authorize online gaming. The Navajo Nation has negotiated to have a clause inserted into its compact whereby it wouldn't have to share any casino revenue with the state if any online gambling licensing framework were deployed. When we consider the small size of the state and the lobbying forces arrayed against online poker, it's pretty unlikely that there will be any arrangements made to legitimize internet gambling within the state.
History of Gambling in New Mexico
New Mexico had been occupied by Spain since before 1598, and when Mexico achieved independence in 1821, it inherited the area from its former colonial masters. The Santa Fe Trail became an important commercial thoroughfare for both the United States and Mexico in the nineteenth century, and weary travelers would often stop at saloons for rest and recreation.
Gambling was certainly a favorite pastime, and the most noteworthy parlor for wagering in Santa Fe was undoubtedly the Barcelo Palace, owned by the remarkable Doña Maria Gertrudis “Tules” Barceló. She excelled at card games and was often able to relieve her customers of all of their gold.
Throughout the 1830s and '40s, tales spread of the lavish decorations of the establishment and the beauty of the proprietress. Tules Barceló continued to remain prosperous even after the region she lived in was transferred to the United States following the Mexican-American War in 1848. Undoubtedly, her decision to offer a loan to the occupying U.S. Army was one factor in her ability to weather the transition.
The appearance of the railroad in the next few decades brought in many settlers who didn't like the lawlessness and sin they encountered when they arrived at their destination. Legislation started to appear to prohibit games of chance, and by the early twentieth century, gambling was illegal throughout the territory. This remained true when NM was admitted to the Union in 1912 as the 47th state.
NM Governor 1995-2003
After the Second World War, pari-mutuel racetrack betting was authorized. This was a boon to the economy as people flocked in from neighboring states that lacked racetracks, like Texas. Charitable gambling and bingo followed in 1978.
During the early '90s, pressure from Native tribes led to compacts to establish real-money casino gaming during the governorship of Gary Johnson in 1995. In the same year, the New Mexico Lottery was established. With horse racing revenue slipping, racetracks were allowed to become racinos with the addition of slot machines.
In October 2018, the Pueblo of Santa Ana tribe opened up a sportsbook at their Santa Ana Star Casino near Albuquerque. The tribe contends that it's fully legal for them to do so under the terms of their gaming compact and federal law now that the prohibitions contained in PASPA have been removed by the Supreme Court. This reasoning hasn't yet been tested in court, but New Mexico's elected leaders don't seem to have raised any objections to it. Since then, four other tribes have launched their own retail sportsbooks in New Mexico, and we foresee others jumping into the fray in the near future.
Below is a timeline giving a visual representation of the important events in New Mexico's gambling history.
Famous Poker Players From New Mexico
New Mexico isn't really a place that comes to most people's minds when thinking of poker hotspots, and this is perfectly understandable as it has a relatively small population and no really major gaming hubs. Still, there are a few New Mexicans who have achieved success in the world of poker, such as Joe Serock from Albuquerque.
Joe Serock From Albuquerque
Joe was born in 1988 and discovered poker while he was in high school. He began by playing in freerolls for about a year, but then his brother won $10,000 in an online tournament and gave Joe a stake to play with. Studying books and poker forums, Joe Serock began to compete seriously in the online realm.
Joe's main screennames were “floes” on PokerStars, “planetearf” on Full Tilt, and more recently, “assisup4rent” on GGPoker. Under these screennames, Joe has racked up more than $1.8 million in tourney scores on PokerStars, $500,000 on Full Tilt, and $1 million on GGPoker: a total of more than $3.3 million won on the internet. His largest online score came in the 2021 WSOP $5,000 Main Event Online Championship on GGPoker in which he finished 5th for $804,191.
Starting in 2007, Serock has been active on the live tournament scene too. Highlights include a runner-up finish in the 2009 World Series of Poker $2,500 NLHE 6-max event, good for $341,783, and a third place result in the $10,000 20212 World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Star Bounty event in which he earned $320,400.
In total, Joe Serock has accumulated more than $4.2 million in offline tourney winnings, placing him first among all New Mexico players. He has booked this enviable total in part through 69 cashes in WSOP bracelet and circuit MTTs and more than 100 cashes in other live poker events. Despite this record of success, however, a WSOP bracelet has thus far eluded Joe.
Other NM Online Gaming
We here at ProfessionalRakeback maintain a primary focus on poker. Still, we recognize that sports betting and casino games are popular among our audience as well. Therefore, we have provided some information below on the best gaming sites to satisfy those who wish to gamble on something other than card games.
Online Casinos
With more than two dozen physical casino locations, including both tribal venues and racinos, New Mexico has no shortage of places to play. However, there are certain advantages to online casinos, including the fact that you can play from home and the ability to enjoy whatever games you want without having to wait for a seat to open up.
There are many internet casinos that accept New Mexico residents as customers, but we have narrowed them down to three that are reputable and honest.
There are several other dependable offshore casino providers. If you're interested in exploring your options, you can read this page describing the most trusted online casino sites for Americans.
Online Sportsbooks
New Mexico has not yet passed a licensed sports betting law, but this hasn't stopped a handful of tribal casinos from opening sportsbooks based upon their understanding of federal statutes and how they apply to sovereign Indian nations. Still, betting online might be preferable because you have a wider range of bookmakers to choose from, and you don't have to visit a brick-and-mortar establishment to book your wagers.
Our extensive research has uncovered three superb internet sportsbooks that accept customers from The Land of Enchantment.
There are other dependable sports betting destinations online, and you can learn more about them in this overview of the best sportsbooks for Americans.
Final Thoughts
For the officials and police in New Mexico, online poker is the last thing they're thinking about cracking down on. Online poker in New Mexico is a pleasant pastime that won't get you into trouble unless you're attempting to set up an illegal betting ring yourself. Choose a site from among our partner organizations, and then get ready to play some cards without even leaving the house.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Mexico online poker is a topic that generates a lot of discussion and confusion. You can look below for the answers to some of the most frequent questions about online poker within the state.
Yes, playing online poker is effectively legal in the State of New Mexico. Although the anti-gambling laws in the state could be construed as making poker games conducted over the internet illegal, they are in practice never used in this way. To date, there have been zero prosecutions of individual online poker players under the relevant NM statutes.
At the federal level, the UIGEA and other applicable laws don't target regular players. Instead, they are focused on penalizing those running the games and the banks that process payments for real money internet gaming. Therefore, you're safe from prosecution under federal laws too if you wish to enjoy online poker in New Mexico.
Yes, PokerStars is acting in full compliance with New Mexico law. However, the firm offers only play money games to residents of the state. This is because, as a consequence of the settlement it agreed to with the DoJ to have the Black Friday charges it was facing dropped, PokerStars agreed to stop allowing Americans to play at its real money tables. The only exceptions are those states that have granted PokerStars a license to operate for real money within their borders.
The list of such states where PokerStars is licensed for real money gaming is short: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. Until New Mexico's leaders establish a framework for online gaming licensure – which doesn't appear likely anytime soon – residents of the state will be able to compete at PokerStars for practice chips only.
The firm claims that its sweepstakes poker model makes it legal in all 50 states, including New Mexico. Nevertheless, we aren't completely convinced. Space constraints prevent us from thoroughly discussing this matter here. You can read our Global Poker review for more insight into this topic.
Yes, Ignition is a legal New Mexico online poker room. Ignition's parent company is headquartered in Hong Kong, and it follows the laws in effect in that jurisdiction. There's nothing in these laws that prevents Ignition from accepting customers from New Mexico.
The federal government might disagree with this interpretation, but it has no jurisdiction over foreign corporations. In any event, the United States has already been found to be in violation of its treaty obligations for its stance against online gaming. So it is the U.S. government that is breaking international law, not Ignition.
Yes, BetOnline is acting in accordance with the law when it allows users from New Mexico to play on its platform. BOL is duly licensed in Panama, and under the rules of its licensure, it is permitted to accept customers from many parts of the world, including New Mexico.
Yes, Bovada is a poker room that accepts customers from New Mexico. At one time, nobody in the state – or in the rest of the United States – could play at Bovada Poker because the cardroom was closed while the sportsbook and casino remained open. However, in 2017, Bovada decided to reopen its poker room, and since then, it has been one of the reputable poker sites available in New Mexico.
There are two minimum gambling ages in New Mexico depending on the type of gambling involved. To play in a casino, join a live poker game, or bet on sports, one must be at least 21 years old. However, to buy a lottery ticket, engage in parimutuel wagering, or participate in charitable gaming, you need only be 18 or older.
Online, it is the age of 18 that matters. If you are below this age, then it would be unwise for you to sign up for an online poker or gaming account using bogus personal information. When it's time to collect your winnings, you'll most likely be required to complete ID verification, and there's a high chance that your deception will be uncovered. If this should occur, your account will probably be closed and all your money confiscated.
No, it's a bad idea to try to manage an illicit gambling parlor in New Mexico. Although violations of the anti-gambling laws by individuals making a few bets are largely ignored, it's a different story when it’s a commercial business that's providing gambling services.
Just look at what happened in February 2011 when the authorities raided a Portales country club that was hosting real money Texas Hold'em games. 10 people were charged, and the establishment was given a citation. Unless you also want to run the risk of arrest and possible conviction in court, we counsel you to stay far away from the underground N.M. gambling scene.
The same payment methods are available in New Mexico as in the rest of the country for online poker: bank wires, credit cards, money transfers, checks, and more. However, all of these above-mentioned payment channels carry significant drawbacks, like generally high fees for bank wires, low maximum transaction amounts for money transfers, and the possibility of credit cards being declined.
Bitcoin is the solution to most of these issues, and it is accepted at all of our recommended New Mexico internet poker sites. It comes with low fees, fast transaction speeds, and a relatively wide range of permitted deposit and cashout amounts.
In recent years, other crypto-currencies, known as “altcoins,” have been seeing increasing support at online gaming destinations. Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash are a couple of them, and they both offer certain advantage over Bitcoin.
No, there's no exemption in NM law for private or social card games. Thus, all such games appear to be technically illegal under the relevant anti-gaming statutes.
That said, the only instance we were able to find of police breaking up a live poker game in New Mexico took place at a commercial establishment rather than a private home. It's extremely likely that you will face no persecution from law enforcement if you keep your home game a low-profile affair and do not commit any other crimes or draw unnecessary attention to your game.
Additional Resources
New Mexico has a wealth of gambling opportunities, and you can find out more about them with the following resources:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!