NH Residents May Get Say on Local Gambling Projects

A couple of gambling bills are making their way in New Hampshire. One of the proposals seeks to permit local residents to decide against games of chance or casinos, while the other one grants them the power to decide on whether they should permit the establishment of such venues in their town or city.

HB 737 Allows Residents to Prohibit Games of Chance via a Vote

One of the proposals, House Bill 737 (HB 737), was introduced late in January. The bill’s language is broad, considering its title is “An Act creating local options for games of chance.” After its introduction in January, HB 737 successfully cleared the House late last month and was introduced in the Senate. On Wednesday this week, the proposal has gone through its first hearing in the Senate at the Ways and Means Committee. There, HB 737 did not face any opposition.

Ultimately, under the proposal, residents of municipalities or cities would have the option to vote on the prohibition of “games of chance,” within their local areas. “The lottery commission shall not grant a game operator employer license to operate games of chance in a municipality if that municipality has voted to prohibit games of chance to be held within its boundaries, or if there is a pending question on the municipality’s warrant or official ballot for the next regular municipal election,” reads HB 737.

The bill even proposes wording for two types of questions regarding the prohibition of games of chance or “… brick and mortar games of chance operations.” Under the bill, if a majority of the voters approve such prohibition by voting “yes,” their city or town won’t be permitted to operate games of chance. If approved, HB 737 would come into effect on July 1, 2025.

Separate Bill Grants Local Residents a Chance to Approve Historic Horse Racing Machines

A separate proposal also affects the gambling sector in New Hampshire. That’s the case under House Bill 247 (HB 247), introduced in the House back in January. Similarly to the other bill, HB 247 passed the House last month and has gone through a hearing in the Senate.

While HB 737 allows residents to vote in favor or against the prohibition of games of chance, HB 247 has the opposite purpose as it would permit residents to allow pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing machines. The bill authorizes residents of towns and municipalities to permit such gambling activities within their town or city.

Unlike HB 737, which would come into effect in July if approved, HB 247 would be implemented as of January 1, 2026. That is the case considering that lawmakers approve it, and the bill becomes a law.

HB 737 has a total of eight sponsors, including Republicans and Democrats. On the other hand, HB 247 has five sponsors and three of them are Democrats, while the other two are Republicans.