New Mexico’s Zia Park Casino, Hotel and Racetrack could be first among the businesses in the Land of Enchantment that could benefit greatly if the state ever legalizes sports betting.
The track, which runs a season of quarter horse and thoroughbred racing beginning September 22, is located in the southeastern part of the state near the Texas border. The racino also operates 750 slot machines and simulcasts of racing on several TV screens.
New Mexico already has several Indian casinos, a state lottery, plus offering recreational senior bingo, horse racing and off-track betting. The state only has two million residents, but Zia is positioned to appeal to a larger population in the Lone Star State, where gambling options are severely limited. Texas is just six miles away. Texas is famously obsessed with football, and nearby venue for sports betting might be positioned to do well in that department.
A recent study found that Texas residents lost $2.95 bill crossing the state line to play at casinos in New Mexico and elsewhere. So the audience is there and already traveling.
Penn National Gaming Inc. owns Zia Park. It has already moved quickly to add sports betting to its other casinos located in states that have legalized sportsbook after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the ban in May.
The main problem for Zia fulfilling this ambition is the political gridlock between racing and tribal casino interests, which have so far kept anyone from reaping whatever profits there are to be made.
