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Legislative Auditors Fault NM Gambling Regulators

Legislator auditors are recommending that New Mexico strengthen its regulatory oversight of gambling at horse racing tracks and casinos operated by Indian tribes.

A Legislative Finance Committee report released Wednesday said the New Mexico Racing Commission and the state Gaming Control Board are understaffed and hampered by limited regulatory powers.

The Racing Commission regulates the five race tracks in the state, all of which operate casinos. The Gaming Control Board oversees the state's gambling compacts with 14 tribes as well as non-tribal gambling at race tracks and by non-profit groups and fraternal organizations.

The audit said the Racing Commission needs more money to increase the frequency of testing of horses to detect illegal drug use and criticized the regulator's tracking of taxes that must be paid on pari-mutuel wagering

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.