Key points:
- New Hampshire casinos only allow table games and machines that are affiliated with local charities
- State lawmakers would first need to pass a bill to allow slots in the state’s 14 active casinos
New Hampshire casinos could soon consider welcoming slot machines on their gaming floors, according to a Concord Monitor local news report.
However, state legislature would need to pass a bill before this could become reality.
State Senator Tim Lang has suggested introducing slot machines to casinos around New Hampshire could “not only generate additional revenue but also lead to cost savings for operators, the state and charities.”
Lang explained that the new slots would need to operate at speeds like what players are used to with historical horseracing (HHR) machines.
He told local news, “We want to make sure that the speed of play is consistent with what’s currently being used in HHR.
“There was some concern amongst the responsible gaming people that it’s a little addictive if it’s allowed at its full throttle speed.”
Lang is part of a commission that is in the process of reviewing the charitable gaming industry in the state.
Good to know: New Hampshire is home to 14 active casinos
The commission recently submitted a report with a suggestion that lawmakers “explore the possibility of permitting slot machines” in New Hampshire’s casinos.
Traditional land-based casinos are currently illegal in New Hampshire. However, the state allows its venues to offer players table-based and machine-based games that are connected to local charities.
The current law on the books allows charities statewide to partner with charitable gaming operators, as long as they do not exceed 10 gaming dates per year.
The state opened its sports betting market in July 2019.
