Dr. Guy Clark: Is “Jackpocket” The Prelude To Full-Scale Online Casino Gambling In New Mexico?
Guy Clark
Credit: Roz Savage [www.rozsavage.com]
Chasing money
Photo of Dr. Guy Clark of Stop Predatory Gambling of New Mexico
The New Mexico Lottery quietly introduced a new lottery app in April 2022 called Jackpocket, usurping legislative authority. Jackpocket currently enables New Mexicans to play seven lottery games via their smartphones, laptops, or home computers using the Jackpocket app; however, this game lacks statutory authority, constituting online gambling, a concept previously rejected by the legislature. No action has been taken by the legislature to legalize Jackpocket.
This unauthorized move by the state lottery echoes a similar incident in 2016, dubbed “Play at the Pump,” where the lottery installed lottery games at gas station pumps without legislative approval. Following public outcry, these games were shut down.
Jackpocket poses a much greater risk than Play at the Pump. While the latter allowed lottery play at a dozen or more service stations, Jackpocket extends the opportunity to play at least seven lottery games on smartphones and thousands of online-accessible devices statewide. Jackpocket provides a MASSIVE expansion of gambling in New Mexico.
Draftkings, a giant in the Online gambling industry, recently announced an arrangement with Jackpocket to acquire Jackpocket for $750 million, intending to expand Online sports betting and casino-style games in approximately ten states (including New Mexico) using their app. This collaboration provides an even greater expansion of the most dangerous form of gambling.
Another fact to take into consideration is that the state/tribal gaming compacts state that if the state allows Online gambling this would automatically open state/tribal compacts to negotiating with the potential of reducing revenue sharing, expanding hours of operating, extending the life of the compacts and allowing serving alcohol on the casino floor, and more.
At the very least the legislature and the governor should have the Attorney General force the state lottery to close the illegal Jackpocket app. An even better solution would be to shut down the New Mexico Lottery for usurping legislative authority and violating state law. If a private company started offering illegal gambling to the public the Attorney General would quickly close them down, fine them, and possibly put them in jail.
Please take the time to contact your state legislators. You can accomplish this by following these instructions:
Go to legislative website at: nmlegis.gov.
Click on “Legislators” at top of page.
Scroll down and click on “Find My Legislator.”
Select House or Senate. Click on “Search by your address.”
On next page enter your full address in the field below the Chamber field. Enter Search.
That will bring up a page with your legislator’s picture, name and email.
Click on the email link, use one of the suggested carriers, or copy and paste the email address to your own email carrier and compose your email.
You can also call the governor’s office at 505-476-2200 and leave a message.
The main message should at least contain, “Please shut down Jackpocket to prevent Online gambling legalization” and perhaps, “Please shut down the lottery.” The scholarships could be easily funded by the revenue surpluses in recent years. You can add information of your choosing from the piece above or include your own message.
Thank you so much for your valuable help,
Dr. Guy C. Clark, executive director Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico
