Pueblo of Pojoaque becomes second in New Mexico with sports betting operation

Monday, March 18, 2019  

The Pueblo of Pojoaque has entered the sports betting industry, becoming the second tribe to do so in New Mexico.

The Thunder Race & Sportsbook debuted at the Buffalo Thunder Casino and Resort last Monday, according to news reports. It's the "best place to wager on the big game and the tracks," the facility's website reads.

The tribe follows in the footsteps of the Pueblo of Santa Ana. A sportsbook opened at the Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel last October.

⁦@MarkTickySmith⁩ ⁦@GeoffGrammer⁩ didn’t see much about Buffalo Thunder opening a sports book, wandered in to use restroom and learned they just opened this morning. Some folks might be interested pic.twitter.com/ZEFWw0lnkI

— Mario Santiago (@MarioSa04468549) March 11, 2019

A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision opened the door for tribes and states to offer sports betting. Though the state of New Mexico hasn't taken specific action since the May 2018 ruling, tribes are able to offer such wagers pursuant to their existing Class III gaming compact.

Under the agreements, tribes are required to share a percentage of their revenues with the state. The payment is derived from the "amount wagered on gaming machines," according to the New Mexico Gaming Control Board, so it appears wagers on sports games are not included.

For the quarter ending December 31, 2018, tribes shared $18 million with the state. That was an increase from the nearly $15.9 million shared during the same period a year prior.

Pojoaque was the last tribe to sign the compact and only did so after the state refused to negotiate different terms and pressured vendors who were doing business on the reservation. The tribe complained that it was being required to share additional revenues without getting anything in return.

Sports betting begins at Buffalo Thunder (The Santa Fe New Mexican March 13, 2019)
Buffalo Thunder casino opens sports book (The Albuquerque Journal March 11, 2019)

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