Gambling in New Hampshire

Legal forms of gambling in the U.S. state of New Hampshire include the New Hampshire Lottery, sports betting, parimutuel wagering, and charitable gaming. The state's Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority (GROA)[1] is part of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, which also maintains an Investigative & Compliance Division.[2]

Lottery

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Main article: New Hampshire Lottery

Initially known as the New Hampshire Sweepstakes, the state's lottery began operation in 1964 and is the oldest lottery conducted by a U.S. state.[3][a] New Hampshire offers scratch tickets and participates in multi-state lotteries such as Mega Millions and Powerball. Online sales began in September 2018.[4]

Sports betting

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Sports betting is offered in the state exclusively by DraftKings, on behalf of the New Hampshire Lottery.[5][6] DraftKings accepts wagers online and through self-serve kiosks at four retail sportsbooks, located in Dover, Manchester, Seabrook, and Nashua, New Hampshire.[7]

Sports betting was legalized by the state in 2019.[8][9] DraftKings was granted its exclusive contract later that year for a six-year period, based on its offer to give 51% of online revenue and 50% of retail revenue to the state.[10] The first bet was placed on December 30, 2019, by Governor Chris Sununu.[11]

Parimutuel wagering

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A postcard of Rockingham Park

The state allows parimutuel wagering on horse racing and greyhound racing.[12] However, there are currently no active tracks in the state.[13][14]

Rockingham Park, a horse racing facility in Salem, operated from 1906 until 2009.[15] Dog racing took place at several venues, including Hinsdale Greyhound Park, which closed in 2008,[16] and Seabrook Greyhound Park, which ended live racing in 2009.[17]

Former racetrack sites can offer off-track betting; as of 2023, only the former Seabrook Greyhound Park, now operating as The Brook, does so.[18][19]

Charitable gaming

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Charitable gaming allowed in the state includes poker, bingo, Lucky 7 pull-tab tickets, and raffles.[20] Groups wishing to run charitable gaming events must be registered with the state.[20]

In 2021, New Hampshire legalized Instant Racing (also known as historical horse racing) at charitable gaming facilities.[21]

Casinos

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New Hampshire has no commercial casinos. Several facilities that brand themselves as casinos operate under the state's charitable gaming laws, donating a portion of daily proceeds to local nonprofit organizations.[22] One such facility operates table games including Spanish 21 and roulette, poker tables, and historical horse racing machines.[22][23] A similar facility donated over $4 million in 10 years to a local American Legion post.[24]

As New Hampshire has no federally recognized tribes, the state has no Native American gaming (colloquially known as "Indian casinos").[13]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Legal lotteries in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were established in the 1930s.

References

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  1. ^ "Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority". NH.gov. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "Enforcement Unit". NH.gov. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "About Us | New Hampshire Lottery". nhlottery.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "New Hampshire Becomes The Sixth State Offering Online Lottery - Online Poker Report". Online Poker Report. 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  5. ^ "Three years later, sports betting is a slam dunk for New Hampshire". The Telegraph. Nashua, NH. April 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  6. ^ Robin Harrison-Millan (November 26, 2019). "NH approves exclusive sports betting contract for DraftKings". iGaming Business North America. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  7. ^ "DraftKings Sportsbook Locations". New Hampshire Lottery. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  8. ^ Nick Stoico (July 12, 2019). "Sununu signs sports betting bill". Concord Monitor. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  9. ^ "Title XXIV: Games, Amusements, and Athletic Exhibitions | Chapter 287-I: Sports Betting". NH.us. New Hampshire General Court. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "Sports betting approved in New Hampshire for next year". The Seattle Times. AP. November 25, 2019. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  11. ^ "New Hampshire adds sports betting". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. AP. December 31, 2019. p. A6. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "TITLE XXIV GAMES, AMUSEMENTS, AND ATHLETIC EXHIBITIONS | Chapter 284 HORSE AND DOG RACING". NH.us. New Hampshire General Court. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Friedl, Jon (March 14, 2022). "New Hampshire Slot Machine Casino Gambling". professorslots.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "beabetterbettor.com". Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  15. ^ Loder, Amanda (May 24, 2013). "Remembering Rockingham Park: A Story of Prestige and Decline". NHPR. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  16. ^ Brown, Garry (29 December 2008). "Western Mass. fans regret passing of nearby greyhound race track". The Springfield Republican. Retrieved 10 October 2012 – via MassLive.com.
  17. ^ Barrick, Daniel (July 14, 2009). "With mandates lifted, live dog racing abandoned". Concord Monitor. p. 1. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Lynne Snierson (February 15, 2023). "Gambling for good". New Hampshire Magazine. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  19. ^ "The Brook | Racebook". livefreeandplay.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  20. ^ a b "New Hampshire Charitable Gaming". casinocity.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  21. ^ "New Hampshire authorizes historical horse racing in the state". WBZ-AM. June 10, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  22. ^ a b "New Hampshire's Boston Billiard Club & Casino installs 50 HHR gaming machines". yogonet.com. November 3, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  23. ^ "Tables Games". bostonbilliardclubcasino.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  24. ^ Sullivan, Max (November 4, 2021). "Hampton Beach's Ocean Gaming Casino goes all in on expansion as gambling grows in NH". seacoastonline.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
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