New Hampshire To Get New Casino in Nashua Following Local Approvals

Article by : Erik Gibbs Sep 14, 2023

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In Nashua, New Hampshire, the stage is set for a transformative twist that might see a vacant department store morph into a bustling casino hub. City officials have given the green light for an established gaming enterprise to make a move.

While the precise timetable for this grand relocation remains uncertain, the prospect holds promise for the casino and the surrounding area. However, there’s a unique quirk in this unfolding tale.

On Thursday night, a brief step back in the city’s approval process for a plan to transform the former Sears store in the Pheasant Lane Mall was smoothed over.

EC NH Real Estate Holdings, Inc. clinched approval with a 4-1 vote from the Nashua Planning Board, inching closer to making it all happen.

EC NH presented its formal vision to the board back in August. Their blueprint involves setting up a shop with 1,200 historical horse racing gaming terminals and an enticing ensemble of 62 gaming tables within the venerable old department store.

Once the conversion is complete, the venue, affectionately dubbed “The Mint” by EC NH, will be ripe for the taking. But, of course, there’s work to be done.

Before the doors swing open, substantial interior renovations will be required, an endeavour that promises to breathe new life into this retail relic. Surprisingly, the approved plans omit any exterior alterations, potentially hastening The Mint’s debut, possibly as soon as 2024, provided everything moves according to plan.

Currently, EC NH has remained tight-lipped about the commencement of these renovations, leaving further details in the pipeline as they navigate this exhilarating transformation.

Yet, there are still bridges to cross and roads to pave before “The Mint” can glitter in its full glory. The need to finalize an emergency plan in collaboration with local law enforcement and to address traffic improvements around the mall is paramount.

Concerns have surfaced regarding the casino’s potential impact on local traffic, issues that Nashua residents have vocally expressed.

Here’s where it gets intriguing. The Pheasant Lane Mall spans the Massachusetts border, with a part of its parking lot in the Bay State.

This complicates formulating an emergency plan and presents the need to coordinate across multiple jurisdictions. Nonetheless, the developer, EC NH, is not deterred, as the prospect of increased revenue outweighs these logistical nuances.

EC NH operates the Lucky Moose and The River casinos in Nashua but intends to transfer its license to “The Mint.” With the promise of amplified foot traffic and a whopping 169,000 square feet of potential revenue-generating space, the possible windfall is too enticing to ignore. Moreover, New Hampshire has upped the ante by raising bet limits at such casinos.

The Mint’s performance could substantially impact the future of gambling in New Hampshire.

Earlier this year, the state’s legislature contemplated legalizing online table games, which was met with resistance from land-based casino operators who feared it would cannibalize their businesses.

If “The Mint” significantly boosts its revenue compared to what EC NH was raking in at its existing locations, it might stiffen its opposition to legalizing real-money online casinos.

In the same breath, as initially drafted, this proposal could have minimal repercussions on charitable casinos in the state. In online gambling, the absence of slot games renders the product a mere shadow of its potential. Just as in physical casinos, slots are the lifeblood of online casinos in the US.

Therefore, initiating online gaming with table games and allowing brick-and-mortar casino operators to witness the coexistence of their businesses with their digital counterparts could be a stepping stone toward a robust online casino ecosystem in New Hampshire down the road.