Senate Bill 303 strips out default to Nevada/New Jersey standards, clarifies ‘New Mexico’ in text

Senate Bill 303 would direct that New Mexico not default to Nevada’s or New Jersey’s gaming standards and instead allow the state to set its own technical and regulatory specifications for gaming machines.

Terry McGaha, acting executive director of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board, told the committee that when the state’s gaming regime began it was logical to use long-standing jurisdictions as models, but New Mexico’s industry has matured and now “operates under well developed independent regulatory framework.” He said the bill affirms the state’s ability “to regulate gaming based on its own well established principles and regulations.”

Committee amendment: Senator Figueroa moved and the committee adopted an amendment to insert the words “New Mexico” into the statutory language to clarify which state’s standards the bill refers to; the amendment was described as recommended by the Department of Justice.

Vote: Senator Bergman moved the bill; Senator Sherr seconded. The committee gave SB303 a due-pass recommendation as amended by show of hands; no opposition was recorded in the hearing.

Context: Sponsors said the change recognizes New Mexico’s different market conditions and regulatory practices compared with Nevada and New Jersey, and is intended to let the state tailor standards to local needs rather than defaulting to out-of-state specifications.