Bipartisan Support for Casino Bill?

Supporters of legislation to legalize casino gambling in New Hampshire are working to build bipartisan support to offset some of the bipartisan opposition.

A bipartisan group of legislators rallied Monday behind the potential for expanded gambling to help fund state government and boost the economy, according to a report by WMUR.

Among those at the news conference in Concord, state Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry) signaled there is possibly more interest in a proposal. 

The casino bill getting most of the attention remains Senate Bill 152, which passed the Senate earlier this month. There's another gambling bill that was tabled last week in the House, one that could be used to establish a House position on gambling.

During the most recent House debate, some state representatives expressed a desire to see more than one casino location – which Senate Bill 152 proposes. 

The Senate bill proposes 150 table games and up to 5,000 slot machines at one highly regulated casino in southern New Hampshire.

Here is the Senate's casino gambling bill, as amended.

Expanded gambling got a boost this session with Gov. Maggie Hassan (D-Exeter) supporting a proposal for one highly regulated casino. As the debate heats up, the Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling is also rallying against the casino bills.