New Hampshire the Latest State To Consider Online Casino Bill

Article by : Erik Gibbs Jan 31, 2025

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New Hampshire is once again considering the legalization of online casinos with a new bill introduced in the state Senate. However, the proposal faces familiar challenges, particularly concerns about how it could affect charitable gaming revenue. A similar effort in 2023 failed to gain traction due to worries that online gambling could take business away from land-based charitable casinos, which help fund various nonprofit organizations in the state.

The latest bill, SB 168, is led by Sen. Tim Lang, who also championed the previous legislation. While this version includes some key differences from the 2023 proposal, opposition remains strong. A recent study commissioned by the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Study Commission highlights continued fears of market cannibalization, suggesting that the expansion of iGaming could hurt existing gaming operations rather than complement them.

SB 168 is currently being reviewed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. If passed, the bill would authorize the New Hampshire Lottery Commission to license between three and six online casino operators. Each approved platform would be required to partner with a licensed gaming facility within the state, ensuring a direct link between digital and physical gambling operations.

If enacted, the bill would allow online casino gaming for players 18 and older, aligning with the state’s legal age for online sports betting. Operators would be subject to a 45% tax on gross gaming revenue, with tax revenue being allocated as follows: 50% to the state’s general fund, 25% to programs benefiting the elderly and disabled, and 25% to the education trust fund.

One major difference between SB 168 and the previous bill is the inclusion of online slots. The 2023 proposal limited online gaming to table games, aiming to reduce competition with land-based establishments. 

This time, the bill permits slot play but introduces a provision requiring online operators to partner with existing gaming facilities, which could help mitigate financial losses for brick-and-mortar casinos. Despite this adjustment, the debate over whether online gambling will weaken charitable gaming remains unresolved.

The Spectrum Gaming Group conducted a study in August 2024 that examined the potential impact of online gambling on New Hampshire’s existing gaming landscape. The report advised lawmakers to take a cautious approach, recommending that the state wait until 2031 before reassessing gaming expansion. It pointed to a changing competitive environment, with neighboring states likely to introduce new gambling options that could further influence New Hampshire’s market.

Opposition to the bill is expected to center on these findings, as well as concerns about protecting charitable gaming revenue. The 2023 proposal failed in the House’s Ways and Means Committee, where lawmakers questioned whether online gambling would take money away from the state’s nonprofit-supported casinos. 

SB 168 includes different provisions in an attempt to address these worries, but whether those changes will be enough to gain broader support remains uncertain.