The fate of whether a sportsbook gambling site will be allowed in the city of Rochester, New Hampshire, will be left to city voters, according to a local report in the Foster’s Daily Democrat. If approved, the new sportsbook could be part of a new casino at the Lilac Mall.
The question that will be posed to voters on the November 7 ballot reads, “Shall the city of Rochester allow the operation of sports book retail locations within the city?"
Voters four years ago struck down a similar proposal by a vote of 1,488 to 1,439, the local report said.
In preparation for the vote, the Rochester City Council recently held a public meeting to discuss the topic, which the city requires ahead of the vote.
New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre spearheaded the presentation and reminded those in attendance that “state law has authorized 10 physical sports book betting locations.”
New Hampshire is home to four DraftKings sportsbook sites. Those include Seacoast destinations at the Filotimo Casino & Restaurant in the Dover Bowl complex and Seabrook’s The Brook casino.
During the presentation, McIntyre explained the difference between online betting and physical locations, citing that retail locations typically are located in sports bars where players can watch the game and place their desired bets. He noted that online wagering “usually occurs in the home, on games, or lottery tickets."
To date, more than 30 states have embraced regulated sports betting since the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in May 2018, also known as the Bradley Act.
