Exciting news! The New Mexico legislature will not be considering an Online gambling bill this year. Over the past eight years, there have been six attempts to legalize various forms of Online gambling. The 2021 proposal aimed to legalize Online sports betting, Online casino-style gambling, increase the number of slots at tracks, and extend operating hours, but all six bills ultimately failed.
As of the last day for new bill introductions this Wednesday, no new gambling expansion bills were presented. The absence of an Online sports betting bill may be attributed to two potential reasons. Firstly, it’s possible that the racetracks did not submit a bill. Alternatively, a bill may have been submitted but deemed not germane for a short session, primarily focused on appropriation bills, by the governor.
Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico took proactive measures by sending three emails to each legislator (besides supporters), summarizing national media articles highlighting the detrimental impact of Online sports betting on teens and young adults in states where Online gambling is allowed. Some of you heeded the advice and encouraged your legislators to reject Online gambling bills. Despite the racetracks’ efforts to lobby for gambling bills at a legislative gathering, it seems they did not receive significant support.
In addition, I forwarded a piece on the Time magazine article regarding Online sports betting and its impact on teens to Governor Lujan Grisham to encourage her to reject any proposed Online gambling bills from the tracks. While I lack insider information on whether she had the opportunity to reject a bill, our collective efforts may have contributed to the absence of an Online sports betting bill this session.
Although there is no concrete evidence that our advocacy directly prevented the introduction of an Online sports betting bill, we are grateful for any acknowledgment of our contribution to this outcome. Thank you for your help in this critical endeavor.
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