While many may think of New Mexico in terms of its history and its prominence in the worlds of art and art galleries, there is a flourishing casino industry as well. In Albuquerque alone, there are four major casinos competing for patrons from both the local community and from visitors to the area. This competition can lead to benefits patrons, including better deals on hotel / casino “packages,” discounts on other purchases, and even better seats at one of the many concerts presented by these casinos.
Here is a quick look at the four Albuquerque-area casinos.
Isleta Gaming Palace
Isleta was the first of the four Albuquerque-area casinos and has been catering to the southwestern gaming community since the day its doors opened. Its mixture of game pricing is even, with possibly a slightly higher emphasis on the “low end” slots. There are regular poker and blackjack tournaments, and you can “play your way” into the annual World Series of Poker from here as well.
This casino is easy to navigate with the exception of the table games area, which seems to have less space between tables than one might expect. With that one exception, the remainder of the gaming floor shouldn’t pose any major problems for those patrons with limited mobility requiring some form of assistive technology. The casino staff is knowledgeable and ready to help patrons with any concerns or questions. The situation outside the casino is a bit more complicated.
Traffic conditions on Interstate 25, the major access highway, can become quite congested during “rush hours” due to the number of commuters between Albuquerque and the communities of Los Lunas and Belen. Although the state is in the process of creating a commuter railroad system to hopefully alleviate highway congestion, its status is incomplete and its impact has been minimal.
Location: About 10 minutes south of Albuquerque, Interstate 25 Exit 215 “Broadway North / South” (stay left and merge into South Broadway).
Web Site: http://www.isletaeagle.com/
Route 66 Casino
Overall, this is the most “user-friendly” casino in the area and by far the most handicapped-accessible.
Although the smallest in square footage of the Albuquerque-area casinos, the “66” is usually the least crowded and has developed a strong, as well as loyal, local customer base. The games are reasonably priced, with a layered structure to accommodate any budget or betting strategy.
The gaming floor is well laid out, with plenty of room between tables and rows of slot machines. The floor staff is pleasant and present in sufficient numbers as to assure a prompt response to patron’s questions and other concerns.
Traffic congestion near the “66” is usually not a problem since the casino is well away from the western edge of Albuquerque. During peak hours, access to the casino can be slow due to the structure of the combination overpass and 2-lane access road that the facility “inherited” from the highway department.
Location: About 20 minutes west of downtown Albuquerque, Interstate 40 Exit 140
Web Site: http://www.rt66casino.com/
Sandia Resort & Casino
Sandia is the most lavishly appointed of the 4 casino / complexes mentioned here and the panoramas from each room window in the adjacent are, to put it mildly, striking. As far as gaming environment, Sandia seems to lean in favor of the “higher-end” games although there are ample tables and slots catering to a wide range of gambling budgets.
Overall, this casino seems to be the most difficult to navigate. The rows of slot machines are closer together and the spaces between table games are narrower than one might expect. The overall impression is that the floor layout was created to place the maximum number of games within the available space. This definitely distracts from the background trappings of this facility, which are among the best examples of native-inspired artwork in the area.
A potential drawback to playing at Sandia will be that highway traffic can be a problem, particularly at “rush hours” or on weekends. Additionally, its parking lots are not exactly within walking distance of the casino’s front door, which could pose a problem for those with limited mobility.
Location: About 15 minutes north of downtown Albuquerque. Interstate 25 Exit 234 “Tramway”
Web Site: http://www.sandiacasino.com/intro.html
Santa Ana Star Casino
Location: About 30 minutes north of downtown Albuquerque. Interstate 25 Exit 242 “Bernalillo / US 550 / NM 6”
For the first few years of Indian Gaming in the Albuquerque area, “the Star” and Isleta casinos essentially “split the local market.” As other casino operations opened within an hour’s drive of the city, “the Star” lost some of its market share but has remained competitive.
This casino may have a limited appeal to the casual visitor or tourist because, of the 4 casinos in the Albuquerque area, it is by far the most difficult to reach due to traffic congestion and its relatively greater distance from the Interstate Highway.
Otherwise, the Star is well laid out and parking is adequate, unless you visit during special events such as shows or on weekends. For those visitors with limited mobility parking can be, and often is, a problem.
Web Site: http://www.santaanastar.com/
Since it would be impossible to list every “promotion” or “deal” being offered in this market, check the casinos’ web sites often to locate a package that will fit any budget.
