Politics & Government

Casino Gambling Bill Gets House Hearing Today

The bill would legalize up to 5,000 slots and 240 table games at two casino locations.

A bill to legalize two casinos in New Hampshire goes before a House public hearing April 10, and the legislation could hinge on how much revenue the expanded gambling could raise for communities, not just the state.

The House Ways and Means Committee hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in Room 202 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord.

The Senate passed the expanded gambling bill March 27 on a 15-9 vote, but the challenge has always been mustering enough support in the 400-member House of Representatives.

The bill co-sponsored by Sens. Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) and Andrew Hosmer (D-Laconia) includes language to distribute a percentage of the proceeds from the gambling revenues to the host community, as well as the towns around it, and the host county. The bill would lift the suspension on revenue sharing with cities and towns.

The state Department of Health and Human Services would also get some of the proceeds to fund gambling addiction programs to towns and cities under the revenue-sharing agreement.

Gov. Maggie Hassan has expressed support for legalization of one highly-regulated casino in the state and her office continues to watch the developments.

The bill now before the House would authorize the issuance of two casino licenses. One could legalize 80 to 160 table games and 2,000 to 3,500 video slot machines, while the second license category would allow 25 to 80 table games and 750 to 1,500 slots.

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