State negotiates with tribes over slot machine wagers

The Associated Press

Regulators in New Mexico are negotiating with eight pueblos and two tribes over whether slot machine wagers started with “free play” or “bonus point” credits should be included when the casinos report their total quarterly wagers.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that Gaming Control Board officials maintain the tribal casinos are paying the state less than they should by not adding the value of “free” or “bonus” play to the total amount of cash wagered and reported to the state.

Tribal casino officials maintain that because slots players using free or bonus points are not betting actual money, there is no “revenue” produced.

At stake are millions of dollars the tribes pay the state in revenue sharing.