New Hampshire lawmakers are considering updating the charitable gambling laws to include traditional slots.
Currently, 14 charitable casinos in New Hampshire offer HHR (Historical Horse Racing) machines, like slots. While these games function like traditional slots, the algorithm behind the machine is what differs.
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte has expressed interest in expanding gambling in the state to expand funding to non-profit organizations. In a recent budget proposal, Gov. Ayotte suggested swapping out HHR machines for slot machines or video lottery terminals (VLT), which are faster and cheaper to operate.
Potential Revenue
State Rep. Joe Sweeney said the idea is to gradually phase out the HHR machines for the new slots and VLT machines. In 2024, HHR machines brought in around $28 million in state revenue, but they project revenue to rise when VLTs and slots are added.
Sweeney said, “The video lottery terminals will produce a significantly larger revenue for the state and the charities that participate than the historic horse racing machines.”
Currently, 35% of the revenue from HHR machines goes to the state’s charitable gaming program. Individual gaming establishments sponsor charities and receive the benefit on a rotational schedule.
New Hampshire Online Casinos
Residents of the Granite State also have access to online New Hampshire casinos operating outside the state. Since the state does not authorize its charitable casinos to operate online, international brands have stepped in to fill the void for many players. Since there are no laws forbidding online casinos in the state, these sites are technically operating legally in their governing jurisdiction.
New Hampshire recently legalized online sports betting, but there has been no indication that state-licensed casinos will go online anytime soon. While the state does try to prevent residents from accessing online casinos from outside the country, there are no specific laws that penalize players for gambling online with out-of-state sites.
Online Casino Games
New Hampshire players often gravitate towards international online casinos due to their accessibility, acceptance of digital assets, and extensive gameplay options. Popular casino games found at USA online casinos include blackjack, slots, video poker, roulette, baccarat, craps, keno, and more.
Some online casinos we review also offer live dealer games via a live video and audio feed. Live dealer games typically have higher buy ins but for some players the experience of sitting at a virtual table with an actual dealer is worth the cost.