New Hampshire may be moving closer to legal online casino gaming, but the path ahead remains uncertain.
Senate Bill 104, a proposal that would legalize and regulate online casino games in the Granite State, narrowly advanced in the state Senate by a 13–11 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate Finance Committee, an important step that will likely determine whether the proposal has enough support to continue through the Legislature.
If SB 104 eventually becomes law, New Hampshire residents could gain access to regulated online casino games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat, craps, and other casino-style offerings. For now, however, the legislation is still in its early stages and faces familiar opposition from charitable gaming operators.
The news comes on the heels of the announcement that a new casino will be built in The Granite State at the site of an old dairy barn. Revo Casino is also in the midst of a major expansion effort in New Hampshire.
What Would SB 104 Do?
SB 104 would create a legal framework for online casino gaming, often called iGaming. Unlike online sports betting, which focuses on wagering on athletic events, iGaming generally includes digital versions of casino games.
The proposal includes:
- Placing online gaming under state oversight
- Requiring safeguards such as:
- Age verification
- Identity checks
- Geolocation technology
- Wagering limits
- Voluntary self-exclusion options
Self-exclusion is for people who want to block themselves from gambling platforms. Similar consumer-protection features appeared in earlier versions of New Hampshire online-gaming legislation.
Supporters argue that a regulated market could offer New Hampshire a new source of public revenue while giving residents a legal alternative to unregulated gambling websites.
Scholarship Funding is a Major Selling Point
One of the most significant parts of the bill is its proposed revenue allocation.
According to the reported framework, approximately 35% of net profits from online casino gaming would support scholarships for students in the Community College System of New Hampshire. About 10% would go to the New Hampshire Lottery for administrative costs.
Backers of the proposal say those funds could help make higher education more affordable while creating a new revenue stream that does not depend entirely on traditional taxes.
Lottery projections reportedly estimate that online casino gaming could generate about:
- $5 million in the first year
- $20 million in the second year
- $30 million by the third year
Those estimates are central to the argument made by supporters, including Senate President Jeb Bradley and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Tim Lang. Proponents contend that online casinos could expand the state’s overall gambling market rather than simply shift spending away from other New Hampshire gaming options.
The state recently experienced a massive bump in casino revenue.
Why Charitable Casinos Oppose the Bill
The strongest resistance comes from New Hampshire’s charitable gaming sector.
The state has roughly 16 charitable casino facilities. These venues offer games such as poker and table games under a system designed to direct proceeds toward nonprofit organizations. They are different from traditional commercial casinos because charitable giving is built into their business model.
Opponents fear legalized online casino gaming could take customers and revenue away from those facilities. If that happens, they argue, nonprofits could receive less funding.
Sen. Bill Gannon told the Union Leader that online gambling could “eat away” at charitable funds. Churchill Downs, which owns Chasers Poker Room and Casino in Salem, has also emerged as a notable public opponent through lobbyist and former Senate President Peter Bragdon.
This conflict explains why New Hampshire online casino legislation has repeatedly struggled to gain final approval. The issue is not simply whether the state should expand gambling; it is also whether new digital gambling revenue would harm an established charitable-gaming system that already supports local organizations.
Lawmakers also recently reviewed SB 542. This bill would change the state’s charitable gaming system by limiting game dates and adjusting how many charities can operate daily. The Nash Casino is a charitable casino that is also known for being named the luckiest in New England.
New Hampshire Already Allows Some Online Gambling
Online casino games are not currently legal in New Hampshire. However, the state already permits several forms of regulated gambling:
- Online and retail sports betting, operated through an exclusive DraftKings arrangement with the New Hampshire Lottery.
- State lottery products, including online lottery options.
- Charitable gaming facilities offering poker, table games, and other authorized gaming products.
That existing structure may make iGaming seem like a logical next step to supporters. The state already has regulatory experience with online wagering and lottery operations, and it has an established gambling oversight system.
Still, legal sports betting and online casino gaming are not the same. Sports betting is built around wagering on sports events, while online casinos offer games that can be played continuously and more frequently. That difference can raise additional concerns about consumer protections, problem gambling, and the competitive impact on physical gaming locations.
SB 104 Follows Earlier Failed Attempts
New Hampshire lawmakers have considered online casino legalization before.
A previous SB 104 proposal advanced through the Senate in 2023 but later stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee. The House committee ultimately voted unanimously to recommend killing that earlier bill, showing just how difficult it has been to build support beyond the Senate.
Lawmakers also considered SB 168 in 2025. That proposal sought to allow a limited number of online operators and included a connection between online gaming companies and existing charitable gaming facilities. Even with that approach, the measure was tabled rather than becoming law.
The history matters because it shows that New Hampshire’s iGaming debate is not new. Lawmakers have repeatedly faced the same basic question: Can the state capture new online gambling revenue without damaging the charitable casino market?
So far, that question has not received a lasting legislative answer.
What Happens Next in The Granite State?
The Senate Finance Committee will now examine SB 104 in greater detail. Members are likely to focus on revenue forecasts, regulatory costs, scholarship funding, responsible-gambling safeguards, and the potential effects on charitable casinos.
Even if the committee approves the bill, SB 104 would still need to clear additional legislative steps, including further Senate consideration, approval by the New Hampshire House, and likely the governor’s signature.
The narrow 13–11 Senate vote suggests the proposal has support, but not a large margin for error. Organized opposition from charitable gaming interests could again prove decisive, especially once the bill reaches the House.
It is too early to say. SB 104’s Senate vote gives the New Hampshire online casino bill momentum, but it does not guarantee passage. Previous efforts also moved forward before losing support later in the process. For now, the bill represents a serious attempt to expand legal gambling in New Hampshire and direct part of the proceeds toward community college scholarships. Its future will depend on whether supporters can convince lawmakers that the state can grow gaming revenue without undercutting charitable organizations that rely on casino proceeds. The next major signal will come from the Senate Finance Committee. If the bill advances there, New Hampshire’s online casino debate could become one of the state’s most important gambling-policy stories of the legislative session.Will Online Casinos Become Legal in New Hampshire?
