{"id":375174,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-mexico-law\/new-mexico-state-lotteries-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:50:42","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:50:42","slug":"new-mexico-state-lotteries-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-mexico-law\/new-mexico-state-lotteries-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"New Mexico State Lotteries Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Mexico State Lotteries Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

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Many states have enacted lottery laws over the years to create a lottery revenue source for the state. New Mexico passed a law permitting a state lottery in 1995. The New Mexico Lottery Authority officially started selling scratch tickets in April of 1996<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite the draw of winning big, most people who play the lottery are giving to their state more than they will ever see back<\/a>. Some critics argue that investing in your retirement<\/a> is a much better long-term strategy than spending $5 or $50 a month on the lotto. However, unless you truly are spending more than you can afford, you can rest easy knowing your money on the lottery is going to help educate New Mexicans.<\/p>\n

New Mexico Lottery Laws<\/h2>\n

The following table details the main lottery laws<\/a> in New Mexico.<\/p>\n\n
Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\nNew Mexico Statutes Chapter 6, Article 24: New Mexico Lottery Act<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>
Distribution of Lottery Revenue<\/b><\/td>\nHalf of the lottery revenue goes to prizes minus operating expenses, the net remaining revenues (100%) go to the lottery education and tuition fund.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Additional Purpose of Lottery<\/b><\/td>\nTo benefit New Mexico resident undergraduates at New Mexico post-secondary schools by providing tuition assistance. More than $629 million has been raised since 1996 and more than 90,000 New Mexicans have received lottery-funded scholarships<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Lottery Prize Subject to Garnishment<\/b><\/td>\nOn prizes over $600, those owing money for child support<\/a> can have it taken out of their lottery winnings<\/a> by the New Mexico Human Services Department.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Time Limit to Claim Prize and Disposition<\/b><\/td>\nThe New Mexico Lottery Authority has determined that all drawing and scratcher prizes must be claimed within 90 days<\/a> of the drawing or announced end of game. If you don\u2019t claim a prize, it\u2019s paid into the prize fund for future games.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Prohibited Related Activities<\/b><\/td>\nMany lottery-related activities are unlawful, including:
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