A bill legalizing online casino play in New Hampshire has gained momentum following approval from a state Senate committee. Senate Bill 168, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Tim Lang, did, however, come with a key amendment.
The committee’s approval on a 3-2 vote is dependent on the distribution of tax revenue.
Originally, the bill specified that online tax revenues would be directed to the state’s education trust and general funds. This ignited criticism that it was cutting out charities that receive revenue from New Hampshire’s retail casinos. Lang, however, told committee members earlier this month that was “never my intention.”
Under the amendment, the bill now “regulates online gambling and directs the net proceeds to a newly established elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf tax exemption fund for reimbursement to municipalities.”
Furthermore, while the proposal still calls for a 45% tax rate on iGaming revenue, the distribution of those funds would change.
While SB 168 is still pending full approval from a full Senate floor, the amendment could positively impact its chances. Despite the prevalence of sports betting, online casino play remains legal in only seven states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
Opponents like Sen. Cindy Rosenwald and Sen. Donovan Fenton of New Hampshire worry about problem gambling and the lack of player safeguards to encourage responsible gaming. There are also concerns about how legalizing online casinos would impact brick-and-mortar locations, namely in terms of retail spending.
Notably, New Hampshire – where gaming titan DraftKings has held a monopoly over online operations – is one of the few U.S. jurisdictions that allows 18-year-olds to bet. However, legislation was introduced last month in the House Ways and Means Committee to raise the legal age in New Hampshire to 21. That'd put New Hampshire on par with most other states, including New England neighbors Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont.
A study conducted last year by the Spectrum Gaming Group recommended that the Granite State pause further gaming expansion until 2031 when the moratorium on new casino licenses expires. At the moment, that presents only a small obstacle.
Lang's proposal would allow for between three to six iGaming platforms with oversight from the New Hampshire Lottery. Half of the revenue would be allocated to the state's general fund. The other 50% would be split between an elderly, disabled, blind, and depth exemption reimbursement fund and a special education fund.
Estimates by Lang have New Hampshire generating $39 million in annual tax revenue. By comparison, funds from online sports betting – which has been legal in New Hampshire since 2019 – hit $34.9 million last year.
Other states with active proposals for online casino expansion include Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York. Three other states – Indiana, Virginia and Wyoming – have tabled plans until 2026.
While the pace of expansion has slowed compared to sports betting, there is clear momentum on some fronts. Only time will tell how much more progress – if any – New Hampshire makes this year.
Doug is a seasoned sports writer/editor with bylines for the New York Times, Associated Press and CBS Sports. He also has extensive experience in the betting industry, including work for Point Spreads. Prior to that, he covered UConn women's basketball and football for Hearst Connecticut Media.
