SANTA FE - Sen. Steven Neville says Ruidoso Downs has a monopoly on state slot-machine leases, and he hopes to break it.

Neville, R-Aztec, is sponsoring a bill that would revamp the leasing law for five horse-racing tracks that also offer slot machines.

Each track is authorized by state government to have 600 slot machines. A provision of existing law enables these tracks to lease up to 150 additional slot machines, provided that they come from another track that is not using its full allotment, Neville said.

R.D. Hubbard, who runs Ruidoso Downs, is leasing machines to the track in Hobbs, Neville said.

His bill would create competitors for Hubbard by permitting tracks to lease slot machines from tribal casinos.

"It's strictly about opening up the market," Neville said in an interview Tuesday. "I want to eliminate the monopoly that exists."

Neville's bill could get its first hearing this week before the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee. His proposal is SB 484.

Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@-tnmnp.com or 505-820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com.


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