A bill that would have helped the Lottery Scholarship Fund by allowing New Mexico’s racetracks to offers sportsbooks and table games died February 8 in the House Education Committee.
Officials from the Attorney General’s office and State Gaming Commission had testified that the proposed law probably would violate the tribal state gaming compacts, which would have meant the tribes wouldn’t have to share gaming revenue any more.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ray Lara, has requested that it be tabled.
Critics of the bill had claimed the real purpose wasn’t helping students, but rather to allow gaming corporations to expand into the state.
Lara had responded, “I don’t appreciate some of the comments that were made about me and my integrity. The point of this was, I wanted to help more kids in my district, and throughout the state, be able to go to college.”
