Gambling Has Exploded in New Mexico Over Past Decade

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | January 2, 2005 | Colleen Heild

[CedarDave]

John Doe loves to gamble and, boy, does he have a lot of choices in New Mexico. He can play Las Vegas-style slots, blackjack and poker at 15 Indian casinos, buy lottery tickets at 1,100 outlets, play the ponies and slots at five racetracks or gamble at more than 60 veterans and fraternal clubs.

Altogether, an estimated $3.9 billion will be wagered this year at New Mexico casinos, racinos and clubs and on the state lottery.

It is a remarkable change from a decade ago when New Mexico gambling was mostly bingo halls, struggling racetracks and some fledgling Indian casinos operating outside the law.

-snip-

As always, the house wins in the long run. Gamblers in New Mexico are projected to lose nearly $850 million this year— in a state that for the past decade has ranked among the poorest in the nation for personal per-capita income.

-snip-

There are some things we know about gambling in New Mexico. Indian casinos and racetracks employ more than 10,000 people, and gambling generates tens of millions of dollars for the state treasury as well as for scholarships for thousands of students at state universities. But there are some things we don't know, perhaps because we don't want to.

There has been no serious, independent attempt in recent years to gauge Indian gambling's economic impact off the reservations.

There has been no real state study on problem gamblers since the mid-1990s. How do the benefits measure up against the social costs?

There is no way for the public to know what, if any, state regulation of tribal gaming is occurring. The process is cloaked in secrecy.

Does the gambling lobby, flush with money, wield too much influence in Santa Fe?

Does the Lottery have a disproportionate impact on New Mexico's poor?

[CedarDave]

The first state-tribal agreements to legalize Indian casinos were signed 10 years ago next month. New Mexico has now had slot machines at horse-racing tracks for more than five years. In the eight-day series "The Big Bet," the Journal looks at the gambling industry in New Mexico and how it affects our pocketbooks, our neighbors and our communities.

A long, but good summary of gambling in New Mexico. A companion story is being posted, also.

[Paloma_55]

"John Doe loves to gamble and, boy, does he have a lot of choices in New Mexico."

John Q. Smith loves pornography.

Bill Thompson really likes his drugs.

Why does John Doe get to have his fun while the others don't?

And why is it noble to let the indian tribes be the dealers?

[mercy]

Gambling: Best way to tax the poor. It's slick really.

[ThinkingMan]

Video Lottery machines are truly evil. They are designed to be addictive- and the government taxes the hell out of them. Nothing like destroying families for revenue!

[LPM1888]

Video Lottery machines are truly evil. They are designed to be addictive- and the government taxes the hell out of them. Nothing like destroying families for revenue!

I agree with you but my Sister plays them all the time. She has averaged reporting over $17,000 income annually from playing the slots for the last seven years. I've given up on convincing her to stop.

[mercy]

Yep. I wonder just where IS that point in history whereat God will either have to wipe us out ... or apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah? It's gotta be right around here somewhere ..... close.