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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

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

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

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

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

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

Notes

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

References

  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.

External links