Sports betting fans in New Mexico now have a second venue where they can place their wagers following Buffalo Thunder Casino’s move last week to open a sportsbook. Located in Santa Fe, the Pojoaque Pueblo casino joins the Santa Ana Star which began taking sports bets last year.
A report carried by the Albuquerque Journal revealed that the casino is working with Las Vegas Dissemination Co, the South Point Hotel and Casino and National Sports Book Management to operate its Thunder Race Book facility.
Federal officials have confirmed that existing state gambling compacts with indigenous tribes already accommodate for sports betting. But while the New Mexico Lottery board has been seeking to take a slice of the action, there is a measure pending before the State Legislature that would exclude the lottery from developing games allied to the outcome of sporting events.
Owned and operated by the Pueblo of Pojoaque Corp, the Buffalo Thunder Casino comprises almost 70,000 square feet of gaming space. According to industry observers, the launch of its sportsbook could encourage other tribes throughout New Mexico to look at opening up to legal sports wagering.
