Senate On Board With Legalizing Casino Gambling in NH
New Hampshire is one of several states in the New England region looking to expand casino operations, and a recently introduced bill would see casino gambling legalized in the state.
A Category 1 license costs $80 million, with a $1.5 million renewal fee after 10 years. The casino must have at least 80 table games but no more than 160, and a minimum of 2,000 slot machines with a maximum of 3,500.
A Category 2 license comes with a smaller price tag, at a cost of $40 million for a 10-year license with a $1.5 million renewal fee. These establishments are required to have at least 25 table games and 740 slot machines. At most, a Category 2 casino can have 750 slot machines and 80 table games.
In addition to licensing fees, the bill also suggests the tax rates for casinos. When it comes to the allocation of the casino licensee’s gross slot machine revenue, three percent would go to the host community as determined by the locality. A total of three percent of the same revenue would also be divided equally amongst the communities neighboring the host community and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Not The First Bill Of Its Kind
While making it past the Senate is a step forward, D’Allesandro was in a similar position in 2014. With a 173-172 vote, the Senator’s prior casino proposal was cut short in the House after passing the Senate. D’Allesandro believes that this time will be different as there are no major outside lobbyists looking to further their own interests, and the lower chamber will see that the bill is ultimately for the benefit of the state. Other states such as Maine and Massachusetts have expanded their casino gaming operations, and the Senator believes the time is well over do for the state of NH. In a statement to the press, D’Allesandro had the following to say:
"While New Hampshire has done nothing, surrounding states now have gaming entities…They advertise on our TV stations and we send buses of New Hampshire residents to those other states to gamble. It’s time for New Hampshire to do something. No state that has done this has crumbled."
Differing Opinions On Casino Gambling
Aside from NH SB 242, there have been several casino gambling bills introduced over the past decade that have either failed in the Senate or fell short in the House. One organization that has been quite vocal about their opposition to casino gambling is Casino Free NH. Alice Chamberlain, an activist in the group, stated that their disapproval of casino expansion is due to the unreliable nature of the revenue. As seen in the case of Delaware, casinos in small towns may initially bring in the necessary funds but later have to request a bailout. Others claim that casinos lead to increased crime rates and a diminished sense of community.
There are two sides to the argument, but it does seem that New Hampshire is making progress when it comes to the attitudes towards NH gambling sites in the state. There have been several polls in recent years that showcase that a large percentage of the community is in favor of casino gaming in NH. Governor Chris Sununu has not come out in full support of casino gambling, but he has expressed interest in exploring the topic further.
In terms of the Legislature, the House has introduced their own gambling bill – NH HB 560 – which aims to permit Keno at facilities licensed by the NH State Lottery Commission. NH HB 562 is a bill currently under review by the House Ways and Means Committee that would authorize video gambling in the state.
Best For All Gaming Types
