Rep. Tom Schamberg talks with fellow Rep. Susan Elberger of Nashua as they tour the Nash Casino in Nashua on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
GEOFF FORESTER
Vehicles with Massachusetts license plates line the parking lots of New Hampshire’s largest casinos along the state border, a clear sign that players from the state’s southern neighbor are drawn to the state’s gaming venues.
Yet despite the steady stream of visitors, New Hampshire’s strict $50 betting limit holds back high-rollers who prefer Massachusetts, where there are no such caps.
Republican Sen. Tim Lang of Sanbornton is advocating for the removal of wager limits on table games like poker and blackjack.
“If I’m a high-stakes player, I’m going to go to Massachusetts. I’m not even going to come to New Hampshire because I’m limited to $50,” said Lang. “We’re trying to encourage and be competitive with our border states.”
At the Senate Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, Lang introduced an amendment to House Bill 2, the policy section of the Governor’s budget, to lift the wager limit. The amendment was approved, but not without drawing some criticism.
Sen. Cindy Rosenwald, a Democrat from Nashua, expressed concerns about the wager limits and the ongoing efforts this year to legalize slot machines.
“While I get that there are a lot of ways for people to ruin their lives and probably we should let them, I’m not sure that we should help them along the way,” Rosenwald said at the meeting.
In 2023, the maximum individual wager on games of chance was raised from $10 to $50 in New Hampshire.
Lang told the Monitor that he doesn’t see the change in wager limits affecting addiction rates.
“If someone has an addictive personality, whether it’s $50 or $100, they’re still going to gamble,” said Lang. “I don’t think that’s going to drive and create more addiction.”
The push to remove wager limits is intended to boost revenue for both the state and local charities, as 35% of gross revenue from table games goes to charitable organizations and 10% is directed to the state’s Education Trust Fund.
Sruthi Gopalakrishnan can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@cmonitor.com
