New Hampshire launched sports betting operations in the first week of 2020. Governor Chris Sununu was the first to bet from his phone in a Manchester bar.
DraftKings was selected through a competitive bidding process, offering the New Hampshire Lottery the best financial package, the most highly rated mobile sports betting app, and the fastest implementation timeline. The award was announced in November. New Hampshire Lottery signed a six-year contract with betting operator DraftKings to launch both in-person and online sports betting operations. Under the approved contract, the New Hampshire Lottery will receive 50 percent of gaming revenue from sports betting sales.
According to the sport gambling regulations in the state, anyone above the age of 18 is allowed to wager. The state can also have licensed retail betting facilities.
The funds would go towards education programs in the state. After two years of the launch of sports betting in the state, it is projected that the revenue from sports gambling operations would be around $13.5 million.
Governor Chris Sununu signed legislation in July 2019 authorizing the New Hampshire Lottery to conduct sports betting, which will be allowed through as many as 10 physical sports book locations, along with mobile sports betting.
The sports betting legislation was written to provide individual communities with the option to put the question to voters as to whether to permit the operation of retail sportsbook locations within their communities. The cities of Berlin, Claremont, Franklin, Laconia, Manchester and Somersworth voted in favor of sports book locations during city elections earlier this fall. New Hampshire towns will be able to place the question on their Town Meeting warrants in spring 2020.
The sports betting legislation, which creates a Division of Sports Wagering within the New Hampshire Lottery to oversee sports betting, allows for mobile wagering and prohibits any wagering on New Hampshire college teams or any college games taking place in the Granite State. Players must be 18 or older to make wagers.