New Mexico racinos ask governor to reconsider closure

New Mexico’s racetrack and casino operators are asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to consider allowing them to reopen, saying hundreds of gaming operations across the U.S. already have shown that the industry can operate safely.

The tracks and their associated casinos have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. After a brief hiatus, races resumed at Ruidoso Downs in May but without spectators and the casinos have remained closed under the public health order issue by Lujan Grisham.

The revenue brought in by the casinos during race meets helps to subsidize racing. Without the slot machines and tables, purse money has been reduced to a fraction of what it was last year.

In a letter to the governor, track and casino managers in Ruidoso, Sunland Park, Hobbs and Farmington said their operations contribute to the $380 million in tax revenues that gaming brings in each year and their employees are among the more than 17,000 who work in the racing industry and at tribal and commercial casinos.

“As we now approach six months of closure, we have access to proven best practices from other jurisdictions that will allow us to operate our businesses safely for the health and wellbeing of our customers and team members, and we are hopeful that we can bring our employees back to work as soon as possible,” the letter reads.

Nora Meyers Sackett, a spokeswoman for the governor, said public health conditions will determine when it’s safe to ease restrictions for the non-tribal casinos.

“Casinos on tribal land have the autonomy to open, though that doesn’t necessarily make opening a safe decision at this time,” she said.