After a nearly hour-long tour through The Nash Casino, where the bright lights flickered and the celebratory sounds of gaming machines rang out with each win, state Rep. Thomas Schamberg had just one thing to say: The casino seems to have “the right philosophical approach.”
On Wednesday evening, New Hampshire legislators toured the 130,000-square-foot space at the state’s border in Nashua — part of the casino’s parking lot is in Massachusetts — to better understand how charitable gaming establishments have evolved.
The visit comes as lawmakers consider several bills this session that could legalize slot machines — also known as video lottery terminals — or limit how much each charity can receive as donations from casinos.
Schamberg, a Wilmot Democrat, said his main concern is ensuring that all charities, especially those not yet included in a casino’s rotating donation schedule, have a fair chance to benefit.
“I’m not against gaming. I’m not against terminals,” Schamberg said. “We’re trying to take care of our less fortunate and our nonprofits in this state.”
For most legislators, the central issue in charitable gaming is equity — making sure every nonprofit, especially those still waiting for inclusion in a casino’s rotation, has a fair chance to receive funding.
Each year, around 800 charities received funds from charitable gaming across the state. But many still haven’t had the opportunity to be on a casino’s schedule even once.
The Nash Casino currently has around 1,000 historical horse racing machines, but under Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s proposed budget, those could soon be replaced with slot machines or video lottery terminals.
Slot machines are faster, about five seconds quicker per play, and cheaper to operate.
Revenue projections suggest the change could generate an estimated $128 million for the state and $70 million to charities and nonprofits by the second budget cycle.
Rep. Mary Murphy said she is in favor of encouraging casinos to have slot machines, but also wants to take a cautious approach to gambling in New Hampshire.
At first glance, slot machines and historical horse racing machines look nearly identical. The real differences lie behind the scenes in their software. For most players, the change is virtually unnoticeable.
“If HHR was going to cause a problem, slot machines would probably have the same effect. But it’s a win-win for the state and for charities,” said Murphy, a Francestown Republican.
She also added that gaming isn’t her ideal choice for boosting state revenue.
“My preferred way is to actually grow the businesses we already have, make them more successful, so that they’re able to pay more business profit and business enterprise taxes,” said Murphy.
After the tour of The Nash Casino, state representatives expressed interest in learning more about who visits these venues. However, no statewide study has been conducted, and casinos currently do not collect demographic data on their patrons.
Increasing funding to help people with problem gambling is a priority for many state lawmakers. With the current allocation at just $250,000, several lawmakers believe that amount falls far short of what’s needed.
“The number, just on its surface, seemed a little small to me. When you look at the number or the amount of revenue these casinos are raising, I guess that implies a little bit of a concern,” said Murphy. “We’re not in support of revenue at the expense of creating a bunch of social problems for the state.”
In March alone, New Hampshire’s table games and historical horse racing machines generated significant revenue: The state brought in $5.3 million, charities received $5.7 million and casino operators took in $25.6 million, according to the New Hampshire Lottery Commission.
Calls to the New Hampshire Council on Problem Gambling have been steadily rising.
In 2021, the council received 205 calls. By 2023, that number increased to 306 and in 2024, it jumped to 439.
New Hampshire’s casinos have transformed dramatically from modest, mom-and-pop operations into full-fledged entertainment hubs offering live events, dining and more.
The Concord Casino in Concord was the last locally owned casino in the state, but it has been closed since 2024.
John Janigian, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that taking a good look at charitable gaming in the state every year is important, because it evolves rapidly
“It’s a whole new ballgame,” said Janigan, a Salem Republican. “We need to make sure we’re making decisions that make sense.”
Sruthi Gopalakrishnan can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@ cmonitor.com
