Another casino opened its doors Wednesday in New Hampshire, part of a rapidly expanding industry in the Granite State.
There are now a dozen charitable casinos operating in New Hampshire. As of October, they had raked in a combined $139 million for their operators this year alone.
The Revo Casino and Social House opened its doors Wednesday in Lebanon. The casino is owned by a California-based entertainment company that now runs four casinos in New Hampshire.
All the gaming rooms in New Hampshire are owned by out-of-state entities, including multiple companies based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Under state law, a cut of all gaming revenue has to go to registered nonprofits in the state.
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Last year, games of chance and historic horse race machines, a version of slots allowed under New Hampshire law, raised more than $22 million for charities.
Casino profits are also taxed by the state. In 2023, gaming operations raised more than $21 million in state revenue.
Further expansion is on the horizon. The Nash, a multi-level gaming facility, is currently under construction at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua. The facility has held multiple hiring events to fill hundreds of positions ahead of its planned opening later this winter.
In an interview with News9, Eric Althuas, The Nash’s general manager, said the new casinos around the state offer players a taste of entertainment once reserved for cities like Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
“It has all the amenities, the loyalty programs, restaurants, bars, entertainment,” Althaus said. “It’s the whole package.”
Marlene Warner, the head of the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, said the expansion of the casinos in New Hampshire is part of an overall explosion of access to gambling in the past decade. She said that as the industry grows, states and operators need to work together to protect players from problem gambling.
“Operators have some programs and resources,” Warner said. “Regulators have some programs and resources. Advocacy groups and service providers have some resources. But having a more connected, coordinated effort is very much in our future.”
According to Althaus, all employees at The Nash will be put through a training program to spot and address problem gaming at the facility.
“People will be trained to look for those tell-tale signs that someone has had enough,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you’re losing money. You could just be on tilt, and for whatever reason, you’re not in the right mindset.”
https://www.wmur.com/article/casino-new-hampshire-lebanon-121824/63230306
