New Hampshire Becomes 16th State to Legalize Sports Betting

It's official: Legal sports betting is coming to New Hampshire.

Nearly a month after the NH House passed a sports wagering bill, Gov. Chris Sununu will sign it into law on Friday, making New Hampshire the 16th state to pass legislation on the matter.

The Supreme Court's May 2018 ruling that overturned the federal ban on sports betting has allowed states outside of Nevada to legalize it if they wish. Since that ruling, we've seen the following states make the move: Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, West Virginia, and, finally New Hampshire.

Legal expert Daniel Wallach reported on Twitter that he expects the first wager to be placed in early 2020. There are no casinos or racetracks in New Hampshire, but the proposed law would allow for up to 10 retail sportsbook locations and five mobile operators.

The mobile component is particularly important, given New Hampshire's proximity to the Massachusetts border. New Jersey has seen a big lift from New Yorkers spilling over the border to place sports wagers on their phones, and as Massachusetts continues to consider legislation, its residents could do the same thing in New Hampshire.

For updates on where legal sports betting stands in all 50 states, check out our tracker.