New Mexico’s sports betting market gets questioned

A state legislator has questioned the lottery for offering a sports lottery game.

US.- The New Mexico Lottery Authority unanimously accepted a new game that will be tied to the outcome of sporting events last week, and a state legislator is questioning if the lottery has the authority to allow such a game.

Rep. Jason Harper said that tying sports betting into a lottery game makes it illegal: “My view is that if the lottery moves forward with sports betting, that’s illegal,” he said. “This is them going rogue like they have gone with the ‘Play at the Pump.’ They never had the authority to do that.” The game he references, which was proposed in 2015 and 2016 and rejected both times, would have allowed people to play the game while pumping gas.

“When the Supreme Court ruled [in favour of lifting the ban on sports betting] it did not change any laws in New Mexico,” he said. “So why the lottery thinks it can do sports betting now again shows we have a rogue lottery in our state.”

David Carl, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s office, said: “The Office of the Attorney General is aware of both of these matters and will closely monitor New Mexico’s tribal gaming compacts, as well as the lottery, and will work with the Legislature for proper statutory and regulatory oversight to require responsible gaming and enhanced integrity to create an even playing field for all.”