Published on: March 10, 2026, at 03:59h.
Updated on: March 9, 2026, at 03:59h.
- Potential Changes to New Hampshire’s Charitable Gaming Law
- Nonprofits Currently Benefit from Casino Revenue for 10 Days Annually
- A Recent Bill Passed in the State Senate Proposes to Cut This to Seven Days
New Hampshire has a distinctive approach to overseeing casino gambling, mandating that a significant portion of the gross revenue supports nonprofit organizations. A newly approved legislative measure aims to broaden the spectrum of charitable entities involved in the gaming sector.
Since the legalization of charitable gaming in 1977, it has been a requirement that a casino’s gaming machines and table games primarily benefit charitable organizations.
Each operational day, casinos must collaborate with two eligible nonprofits registered in the state, who together split 35% of the daily gross gaming revenue (GGR).
Senate Bill 542, championed by state Sen. Tim Lang (R-Sanbornton) and supported by six Republicans and one Democrat, proposes to lower the number of permissible beneficiary days from 10 to seven annually.
Increasing Nonprofit Participation
Currently, New Hampshire boasts 14 charitable casinos, many of which repeatedly select the same beneficiaries monthly and yearly.
Proponents of SB542 argue this practice sidelines smaller charities that may not have the widespread recognition of larger organizations like Make-A-Wish or Big Brothers Big Sisters.
In January, SB542 passed the New Hampshire Senate via a voice vote and is now under review by the House of Representatives through the Ways and Means Committee.
Lang indicates that by reducing the number of days a charity can be a casino’s beneficiary, over 400 additional nonprofits could engage in the Granite State’s gaming enterprise.
Expanding Gaming Landscape
In 2025, casinos in New Hampshire contributed more than $60 million to charitable initiatives through gaming and slot-like historical horse racing machines (HHR). This contribution is anticipated to grow in 2026 with the recent addition of video lottery terminals (VLTs) introduced last fall.
VLTs are designed to complete a spin approximately five seconds faster than HHR terminals, which are based on parimutuel wagering that evaluates previous horse race outcomes. New Hampshire underwent a revamp of its charitable gaming regulations as part of last year’s two-year budget.
As a trade-off for the VLT authorization, casinos agreed to higher state revenue sharing, with the gross gaming tax increasing from 25% to 31%. Consequently, casinos now retain 31.25% of gross gaming revenue, down from 40%, while charities continue to receive their 35% share after the regulatory changes.
The New Hampshire Gaming Commission allocates 2.5% for its regulatory operations, while the remaining 0.25% is directed to the Governor’s Commission on Addiction, Treatment, and Prevention.
DraftKings, the only online sportsbook in New Hampshire, shares 51% of its gross revenues with the state, with the majority directed towards public school education grants.