The previous New Mexico Racing Commission found itself unable to act on issuing a sixth and last racino license. So Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who took office in January, two weeks ago sacked the old panel and appointed all new members.
The new commission met last week and hammered together how to make that decision. It met in closed session so it could be briefed on the legal battle that hobbled the previous board.
The state is prevented from having more than six racinos by its tribal state gaming compacts.
Newly elected Chairman Beverly Bourguet told the press that they will take some time to review the five pending applications and to consider the feasibility study that one of the applicants challenged as being flawed and incomplete.
That legal challenge is currently before a state district court. The company that brought the challenge had negotiated a settlement with the commission, but then the other companies sought to intervene in the case. So far no judgment has been issued.
Bourguet said the commission will probably take up the license at its next meeting, but didn’t clarify when it would actually make a decision.
She said, “We could continue our review, we could decide to grant, we could decide not to grant. We don’t know exactly what we’re going to do,” she said after the meeting. “We all need to get up to date.”
The governor has also requested more information on the process of issuing a sixth license.
The state’s gaming tribes have questioned the need for a sixth racino.
