New Hampshire has neither tribal nor commercial casinos. Instead, the state is taking a different approach to expanding gambling opportunities.
First and most prominent of all is its approval of online sports betting. DraftKings Sportsbook launched the first New Hampshire sports betting app on Dec. 30, 2019, and before the end of the current year, players can expect as many as 10 more retail sportsbooks to enter the market. However, a few cities have rejected sports betting within their borders. Concord, Dover, Nashua, and Rochester, for the time being, do not allow any online sportsbooks.
Second, is the state lottery that has gone virtual. The New Hampshire iLottery offers more than 20 scratch-off games. It also features multi-state lottery drawing tickets for Powerball and Mega Millions, which residents can buy over the internet. In addition, 1,250 offline retail stores sell lottery entries.
New Hampshire has also uniquely expanded charitable gaming. There are charitable casinos in numerous locations throughout the state, offering craps, blackjack, and over 300 poker tables. The only thing lacking is slots as state laws do not permit electronic gaming machines of chance at these venues. The alternative to charitable casinos are the local sports bars open to residents and visitors, and there are loads of banking options for players available here.
Online gambling is somewhat legal in New Hampshire. While online sportsbooks have begun to see the light of day, online casino games are not permitted, and these operators continue to remain in the dark.
Find New Hampshire Casinos on The Map
Interesting State Facts
New Hampshire was the first state in the US to legalize a lottery in 1963. The state was named after the town of Hampshire in England and often goes by the moniker, the Granite State. The state has a history of strong winds. Mt. Washington has recorded wind speeds at ground level three times as fast as those in hurricanes. America’s Stonehedge is located on Mystery Hill in Salem and is a 4000-year-old stone constructed site.
As one of the original colonies, it was the first to declare its independence, 6 months before the official Declaration of Independence. It’s got a trailblazing spirit, and its motto is “live free or die.” Besides the lottery, other notable “firsts” include the first free public library in 1833, the first alarm clock in 1789, and even the first potato planted in the US in 1719.
New Hampshire Gambling Venues
New Seabrook Park is the only active racetrack. However, it holds no live races at the moment. Off-track betting is prevalent, and the major online horse betting sites available in the state are TVG, TwinSpires, and XpressBet. Defunct pari-mutuel racetracks have become semi-casinos that feature poker and other casino games. For example, the Lakes Region Casino in Belmont offers blackjack, craps, 3 card poker, 4 card poker, Spanish 21, let it ride, and more.
There is a way to play poker and casino games online legally. Sweepstakes casinos host casino and poker games for free, and players are eligible to win real money prizes. Chumba casino and Luckyland slots offer casino games while Global Poker is the leading provider of sweepstakes poker. Before the legalization of sportsbooks, real money sports betting was not permitted, and sports fans depended only on Daily Fantasy Sports provided by the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel.
As we’ve explained, there are now quite a few options to satiate your gambling desires within the state. Nonetheless, some residents still opt to hit the road to visit big casino facilities in neighboring Massachusetts or New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, New Hampshire is void of casinos. That means players have no access to real money slots and table games. Even though there are no casinos, players can still enjoy amazing casino games at charitable events where gaming options include blackjack, craps, poker, bingo, and more. Slot machines are not available at these events.
The absence of casinos is replaced by active sports betting markets. New Hampshire legalized online sports betting in 2019, and there are already several providers offering the best odds on top games. Through the virtual lottery platform, players can buy tickets over the internet. Sweepstakes sites are also available and are currently the only access to online slots within the state. Even though it is not regulated, players can always join offshore casino sites if they wish to enjoy real money online casino gaming.
Smoking is largely prohibited among New Hampshire casinos. A casino is a public place where people from all walks of life troop in to have fun. Therefore, to create a conducive environment for everyone, smoking of any sort is not permitted. Many casinos also make it a rule to not drink while at the gaming table.
The top banking methods at New Hampshire online sportsbooks include credit and debit cards, American Express, Paypal, ecoPayz, and Wire transfer. Nowadays, some sites may accept Bitcoin and other crypto payments.
No, for security reasons and in line with the casino policy, cell phones and cameras are not allowed on the tables or floors of the casino. Still, if you wish to take pictures for some reason, kindly visit the management to discuss your intentions and seek permission.
