New Mexico Grapples With Gambling Expansion

New Mexico is grappling with gambling expansion and at the same time seeing a decline in revenues to the illegal online gambling sector in the state.

In hearings in the state to discuss the expansion of gambling for racinos which are racetracks and gambling venues, the New Mexico tribes that currently have an agreement to run the Pueblo resort and casino with a revenue sharing model with the state said that it would severely affect its taxes to the state if such expansion were to go to racinos.

The proposal is for racinos to have the ability to offer a more expansive offering in line with casinos and the states tribes are concerned this would even more dent their falling revenues.

But both racetracks and the tribes casinos are suffering falling revenues with a 105 drop from last year with many saying that illegal online gambling operators are drawing gamblers to them.

Lawmakers are considering the possibility of legislating for online gambling in a move to halt the fall in gambling revenues and as such tax incomes from operators.

However there is concern from tribal leaders that any new expansion would cut them out and their communities suffer at the loss of the income gambling makes for their livelihoods.