New Hampshire Considers Legalizing Slot Machines to Boost Nonprofit Funding

New Hampshire is discussing whether the 14 charitable gaming casinos may soon gain legal approval to replace their historical horse racing (HHR) machines with traditional slot machines.

State Officials Discuss Allowing Slots in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte has proposed expanding gaming in the state to boost funding for the many nonprofits supported by casinos, as well as for the state itself. In her budget proposal earlier this year, Governor Ayotte, who took office in January and is a former US senator, urged the General Court to pass legislation authorizing slot machines. She proposed that, in return for allowing these more popular games, the state should increase its share of gaming revenue to 30%.

According to Governor Ayotte’s office, legalizing slot machines could generate an additional $70 million annually for nonprofit organizations. This is because they operate about five seconds faster per play than historical horse racing (HHR) machines and are less costly for casinos to maintain. However, state lawmakers are emphasizing the need to ensure that any expansion to include slot machines or similar video lottery terminals also addresses concerns from charities that have struggled to secure dates on casino calendars.

The debate over introducing slots in New Hampshire is nothing new, as lawmakers have been discussing legalizing video slots for a few months already. 

How does the System Work Currently?

New Hampshire’s charitable gaming industry supports around 800 nonprofit organizations each year. Despite this, smaller charities have expressed concerns about the difficulty of securing dates on casino schedules. State regulations permit each charity to partner with a casino for up to 10 days annually. Last year, the five Revo Casino locations—in Conway, Dover, Keene, Lebanon, and Manchester—distributed more than $15 million to approximately 400 nonprofits. Charities interested in becoming benefactors can apply through an online form available on Revo’s website.

In March alone, New Hampshire’s table games and historical horse racing machines produced substantial revenue: the state collected $5.3 million, charities received $5.7 million, and casino operators earned $25.6 million, according to the New Hampshire Lottery Commission.

What Could the Increased Revenue Be Used For?

It seems that a key point for lawmakers is to use the potentially increased funding to aid those people exhibiting harmful gambling behavior. Representative Mary Murphy supports allowing slot machines in New Hampshire casinos but advocates for a cautious and measured approach to expanding gambling in the state.

Many lawmakers have made increasing funding for problem gambling services a priority. With the current budget allocation at just $250,000, many believe this amount is far below what’s necessary. Murphy is one of them, and she said that this is a very small sum, and she said this budget must be increased as she is not in support of increased tax revenue if this means more social problems will be created or not properly addressed.