Sun Ray Park & Casino is a smoke-free racetrack casino in Farmington, New Mexico, with more than 400 advertised slots, video poker, and year-round horse-racing simulcasts. I see its strongest appeal as a straightforward slots-and-supper outing, with live racing adding another reason to visit on scheduled dates. The main limitation: there is no on-site hotel or live table-game floor. It best suits local machine players and racing fans who are comfortable arranging lodging and transportation separately.
Sun Ray Park & Casino at a glance
| Address | 39 Road 5568, Farmington, NM 87401 |
|---|---|
| Casino type | Racetrack casino, also called a racino |
| Minimum gambling age | 21; bring valid photo identification |
| Slots | More than 400 advertised by the operator |
| Other machine games | 30 video poker games and five video blackjack games advertised |
| Live table games | No |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No; horse-race wagering is separate |
| Horse racing | Year-round simulcasts; live racing announced for Fridays through Sundays, April 16 through May 23, 2027 |
| On-site hotel | No |
| Dining | Sportz Arena restaurant and full-service bar |
| Smoking | Smoke-free casino |
| Rewards | SunRay Player’s Card |
| Phone | (505) 566-1200 |
What kind of casino is Sun Ray Park?
Think machine gaming, horse wagering, and a casual meal, rather than hotel towers and a weekend spent entirely inside one resort. That narrower focus is not necessarily a drawback. If you want a few hours at the machines and somewhere to eat afterward, a sprawling resort can be more property than you need.
The smoke-free floor is a useful distinction for visitors who dislike gambling in a smoky room. The racetrack supplies the other defining feature, although a scheduled live-racing day offers a different outing from an ordinary casino visit.
For a broader comparison, see our guide to New Mexico casinos.
Casino floor: slots and video poker
The official casino page advertises more than 400 slot machines, 30 video poker games, and five video blackjack games in a smoke-free environment. These are the operator’s advertised figures as of October 2026, not a fixed inventory guarantee. The video-game counts are not counts of live tables.
Slots are the main event, with video poker and video blackjack providing machine-based alternatives. My advice is to shop the game before you play it: check a slot’s total wager rather than stopping at its denomination label. A penny game can require a much larger bet once all its credits are included. On video poker, read the paytable because matching game names do not necessarily mean matching payouts.
I would not choose Sun Ray, or any casino, because somebody reports that the machines were paying during a previous visit. A guest’s jackpot story is not a forecast of your results.
Live table games
Sun Ray Park does not offer live dealer blackjack, craps, or roulette. Its video blackjack is an electronic alternative, not a seat at a staffed table. If handling chips and playing with a dealer is central to your outing, this is the wrong casino format.
Poker room
Sun Ray Park has no dedicated poker room. Video poker is available, but it is not player-versus-player poker.
Sportsbook
Sun Ray Park has no on-property retail sportsbook. Horse-racing wagers are a separate offering, and watching football at Sportz Arena does not mean you can place a football bet there.
Live horse racing dates and simulcast wagering
Sun Ray advertises year-round simulcasts, allowing visitors to wager on races at other tracks. Seeing horses race in person requires a specific date.
The property’s season announcement lists 18 live-racing days in 2027, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from April 16 through May 23. First post times and additional race-day details are still to come. Do not assume a casino visit outside those dates includes live horses.
For a racing fan, the schedule changes the decision. An ordinary weekday offers machines, food, and simulcasts; a scheduled race day adds the track experience. I would pick the date first and book the rest of the trip around it, rather than reserve a room and hope racing happens to fit.
Confirm simulcast and wagering-window hours separately from casino hours. Keep race wagers inside your gambling budget, not in an imaginary separate pot that somehow does not count.
Hotel and overnight planning
There is no on-site hotel at Sun Ray Park. Overnight visitors need separate Farmington-area lodging and transportation between their room and the casino.
That makes Sun Ray easier to recommend as one stop in a larger trip than as an all-in-one casino vacation. Compare hotel location, cancellation terms, breakfast, and the return journey, not just the nightly rate. If you plan to drink at dinner, settle transportation before the evening begins.
Visitors who want to move from the casino floor to dinner and then upstairs to a room should choose a casino hotel instead. Here, you are assembling those pieces yourself.
Sportz Arena: dining, drinks, and entertainment
Sportz Arena is the principal named dining option, serving prime rib, burgers, and nachos, with a full-service bar and televisions for watching sports. The restaurant also describes a track view through sliding glass doors, a useful feature on live-racing dates.
Breakfast is advertised daily until 1 p.m., but that does not mean an early opening every morning. Published opening times are 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.
Listed closing times are 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Monday needs a phone call: the restaurant page gives conflicting closing times of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Ask about kitchen service rather than assuming food is available until the bar closes.
Friday and Saturday live music is advertised, along with other scheduled entertainment, including comedy at Stingray’s. Check the specific performance before making it the centerpiece of your visit.
For private events, the floor plan hosted by Farmington tourism labels the High Desert Club on the third floor. Confirm your assigned room and elevator access when arranging an event, particularly if anyone in your group has mobility needs.
Special-event admission budgets
Entertainment tickets belong in a separate budget from food and gambling. The advertised listings provide two examples:
- Haunted Stables: October 23–24 and October 30–31, with $15 admission, cash only. An illustrative two-person visit costs $30 for admission alone. The listing says proceeds benefit Area 1 Special Olympics.
- Native Comedy Jam: Saturday, November 14, with $25 tickets, or $50 for two attendees before food, drinks, and gambling. Doors are listed at 7 p.m., with the show at 8 p.m. Event admission is for ages 18 and older, which does not change the casino gambling age of 21.
Neither listing explicitly prints a year. Confirm dates and availability before buying tickets or traveling. These are separate events, not interchangeable entertainment options.
Address, casino hours, and practical visit information
Address: 39 Road 5568, Farmington, NM 87401.
Phone: (505) 566-1200.
Use the full address in your navigation app. I would not build an overnight itinerary around an assumed walk back to a hotel or an immediate late-night ride pickup.
- Casino hours: Third-party listings give Sunday and Monday hours of 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday hours of 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Friday and Saturday hours of 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Treat these as planning guidance and call before a late arrival.
- Identification: Casino gambling is for guests 21 and older. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
- Smoking: The operator describes the casino as smoke-free.
- Parking: Ask about event-specific arrangements or charges when confirming a race or show.
- Accessibility: Ask about the route between parking, the casino, the restaurant, and racing areas if you have specific mobility or seating needs.
- Outdoor racing: Bring suitable layers and sun protection.
If children are coming for racing or a meal, ask which areas they may enter. Event admission and casino-floor access are different questions.
SunRay Player’s Card and gambling costs
The SunRay Player’s Card tracks eligible play and can qualify players for promotions. Ask the Player’s Center about enrollment, current offers, point earning, expiration rules, and registration requirements before playing.
I would be cautious about assigning a dollar value to a drawing entry or a chance at free play. A chance to receive a benefit is not the same as receiving it, and a points threshold does not reveal the cost of qualifying without the earning rules.
Set your gambling bankroll first, then budget separately for meals, tickets, lodging, and transportation. Playing longer to chase a modest reward can be an expensive way to get a small perk.
Guest feedback and practical limitations
The limited available guest comments fit Sun Ray’s positioning as a local slots-and-food stop. One recent visitor describes it that way, while an older positive account praises food, friendly staff, attentive beverage service, and cleanliness. These are individual reports, not evidence of consistent current service.
One visitor reports finding it closed without explaining when or why. That supports calling ahead, not concluding that the property has shut down. The comments are too limited to establish recurring praise, recurring complaints, or a reliable verdict on dining value.
The clearer limitations are structural: no on-site hotel, no live table-game floor, and live racing restricted to scheduled dates. Those matter more to trip planning than an isolated glowing or unhappy review.
Who Sun Ray Park is best for
I would recommend Sun Ray to Farmington-area visitors who want a casual, smoke-free machine-gaming stop with a meal, or racing fans willing to plan around the announced live dates. Limited guest comments include praise for food, staff, and cleanliness, but they do not establish a consistent experience. Sportz Arena and simulcasts add variety without making this a resort. Choose a casino hotel instead if your ideal evening ends with an elevator ride to your room rather than a separate drive.
Frequently asked questions
Does Sun Ray Park & Casino have a hotel?
No. Overnight visitors need separate accommodation in the Farmington area.
Does Sun Ray Park have blackjack?
It advertises five video blackjack games, not live dealer blackjack. There is no live table-game floor.
Does Sun Ray Park have a poker room or sportsbook?
No. Video poker and horse-racing simulcasts are available, but those are different from a dedicated poker room and retail sportsbook.
Is Sun Ray Park smoke-free?
Yes. The operator describes the casino as smoke-free.
When is live horse racing returning?
The announced 2027 season runs Fridays through Sundays from April 16 through May 23. Confirm first post times and race-day arrangements before traveling.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Sun Ray Park?
You must be 21 or older to gamble in the casino. Separate event admission rules do not change that requirement.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.