SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico Department of Justice is now suing online prediction market platform, Kalshi, after four of the state’s tribes sued the platform in May.

The NMDOJ, led by state Attorney General Raul Torrez, is alleging Kalshi unlawfully offers online sports betting in the state by allowing people to place wagers on sporting events on its online platform.

In New Mexico, sports betting is legal but is limited to in-person wagering at tribal casinos. The NMDOJ cited this framework as the basis for suing Kalshi, accusing the platform of trying to skirt state gaming laws and regulations.

“New Mexico has a longstanding and carefully balanced system for regulating gaming that protects consumers, ensures accountability and respects tribal sovereignty,” Torrez said. “The only lawful gaming in New Mexico operates either under tribal-state gaming compacts or under strict state regulations to ensure honest gaming free from corruption and licenses gaming operators only after they explain how they plan to address compulsive gambling. Kalshi has ignored that framework entirely while offering online sports betting within the state.

“We are filing this lawsuit to protect the integrity of our laws, our regulatory system and, most importantly, consumers.”

The NMDOJ accused Kalshi of using “event contracts” to effectively make online sports betting happen in the state. They alleged these contracts function in the same way as traditional sports bets and operate in the state without any gaming license.

NMDOJ also pointed out Kalshi operates with a minimum betting age of 18 years old, three years younger than the minimum age at the state’s tribal casinos.

In May, the Sandia, Isleta and Pojoaque Pueblos and the Mescalero Apache Tribe filed their own lawsuit, pointing out the minimum age and alleging people are using it on their lands in violation of their exclusive rights to offer betting services.

In its lawsuit, NMDOJ is looking to halt Kalshi’s operations in New Mexico and prevent the company from continuing to offer sports-related wagering through its platform.

KOB has yet to receive a statement from Kalshi on either lawsuit.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A local business owner estimates he suffered about $1 million in damages as the result of yet another fire at a South Valley recycling plant.

Town Recycling on Broadway Blvd. SE has witnessed two fires in a span of less than two weeks with the first happening May 23^rd and the second occurring Tuesday of this week.

Khalil Samaha, who owns Samcar, Inc. and Cedar’s Construction next door, says his businesses escaped without serious damage from the first fire, but the second one led to the loss of his main building, inventory he sells including trucks, construction equipment, computers, records, and much more.

“It’s a total mess.  Everything is on the ground with water and insulation. It’s a total loss,” he said.

He gave KOB 4 a tour of his damaged property Wednesday and says that county officials have condemned the main office and won’t let him back inside.

“You can see all the glass is popped,” he said pointing to the windows. “I don’t know if the firefighters broke them or they exploded.”

A spokesperson for Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue issued a statement saying that, based on witness accounts, both fires may have started in a “bale of cardboard” at the recycling facility.

As of Wednesday evening, Broadway between Prosperity and Rio Bravo remained closed.

Samaha says firefighters attempted to battle the second fire from a different area than the first and the wind may have made conditions tougher.

“This time, the wind didn’t help,” he said. “So, it was blowing in my direction and took the building and some equipment in the back.”

Having seen two fires at the neighboring recycling facility in a span of about 11 days, he wonders if this will finally be the end of it.

“I hope it’s the last time. But, worried? Yes, we are worried,” he said. “We are close to them, and the materials are close to the fence. We share the fence together, so it’s always in the back of your mind.”

And now he lives with the memory of how quickly everything can change – just like it did earlier this week.

“It was very quick.  From the smoke to the flame to the fire, it was very, very quick.”

A representative of Town Recycling declined our request for an interview.

LAS VEGAS, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University President Niel Woolf has sued the school, claiming leaders pushed him to redirect a $600,000 contract to a chairman’s friend.

Woolf filed the lawsuit after the university placed him on administrative leave at the beginning of May.

He says Board of Regents Chair Frank Sanchez told him to cancel a $600,000 agreement with an out-of-state contractor and give it to a local contractor.

Woolf says that company is led by a friend of both Sanchez and his brother-in-law, Sen. Pete Campos, who represents Las Vegas.

In the lawsuit, Woolf says Sanchez told him directing the funds to his friend would “go a long way towards securing money for the University from Senator Campos,” said Woolf.

Woolf is seeking damages and attorney’s fees under the New Mexico Whistleblower Protection Act.