A move by the sponsor of SB60, a bill to bring regulated online casinos to New Hampshire, has the future of the bill this legislative session in doubt.
During a meeting of the Senate Ways and Means Committee this week, Sen. Tim Lang recommended tabling the measure even though the committee recommended passage with an amendment.
Lang did not offer comment or reason for the action during the committee meeting. SBC Americas reached out to Lang’s office but has not received comment.
Tabled bill latest stalled gambling expansion bill nationwide
Across the country, online gambling legislative efforts have largely stalled for an array of reasons. In some states, such as Texas, lawmakers are not even bothering to move bills because of the very public stance of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick when it comes to gambling expansion.
Patrick has made it clear that, as president of the Senate, he will not call any bill that does not have the majority support of Republican members of the chamber.
Looking up the chain of command in New Hampshire, it is possible that leadership could be an obstacle for online gambling efforts.
Ayotte has long history of gambling opposition
Newly installed Gov. Kelly Ayotte served in the U.S. Senate prior to her new role and has a history of opposing online gambling. Granted, these actions took place over ten years ago, but her sentiments about gambling give a glimpse of her stance on the industry overall.
In 2014, Ayotte, along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Lindsey Graham, penned a letter to the Department of Justice encouraging the office to support a federal bill that would have overturned the 2011 DOJ opinion that concluded the Wire Act only applied to sports betting and that online casinos and lotteries would not run afoul of the law if run at a statewide level.
We must act before we find virtual casinos making gambling pervasive in our society, invading living rooms, bedrooms, and dorm rooms across the country; a result we know the DOJ does not want to see,” the letter stated. The letter suggested online gambling would prey on vulnerable populations such as children and could be a venue for money laundering as well.
Prior to serving in the Senate, Ayotte held the office of Attorney General of New Hampshire from 2004-2009. During her tenure, she authored a letter to state senators encouraging them to vote no on a measure to allow for video slot machines at state race tracks. In the letter, she cited concerns about a rise in problem gambling and a rise in crimes related to gambling.
The legislature did not pass the measure that year and, to date, has not allowed for slot gambling in the state even though tracks and other locations offer keno, bingo, table games and Historical Horse Racing.
Under Ayotte’s predecessor, Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire legalized sports betting in 2019, with Sununu placing the ceremonial first wager in the state.
