After New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu several weeks ago said he supported getting revenues from sports betting that would be regulated by the state lottery. His office estimated that the state could collect more than $10 million in taxes.
Following that encouragement, Rep. Timothy Lang sponsored a bill, HB 480 commenting “We’re not creating a new industry here, we’re just bringing an illicit industry into a legalized industry.” His bill would exclude athletic events involving the state’s colleges.
The bill would allow mobile sports betting and betting at retail operations, which would create the option of licensing sports betting lounges. There are no casinos in the state. New Jersey, which began offering sports betting last year shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the ban, takes in about 80 percent of the wagers via Smartphone.
Lang told the Concord Monitor that one retail operator, the owners of Seabrook Greyhound Park, have shown an interest in offering sports betting at the racetrack.
DraftKings, which operates sports betting in New Jersey, testified to the House Ways and Means Committee a month ago that state residents illegally wager an estimated $625 million annually. This brings no money to the state, said the representative. DraftKings and its rival FanDuel, have reportedly spent thousands of dollars on lobbying.
Under the bill 10 percent of the state’s take would be set aside for treatment and prevention of gambling addiction. Some would also go towards the schools.
