New Hampshire Casinos & Gambling
New Hampshire Pari-mutuel :: New Hampshire Gambling :: New Hampshire Casinos
A few years back, the possibility of having a gambling bill approved in the State house of New Hampshire seemed remote. But times are now changing. With a budget deficit looming, residents of New Hampshire has began considering an expanded gambling law as the option.
While there were no Las Vegas style casinos in New Hampshire, the Granite State, for years now, has enjoyed lotteries, charitable bingo and pari-mutuel betting. The state of New Hampshire has had quite a long and progressive gambling history. Horse racing bets were legalized in 1933, the state lottery born on in America on this state in 1963.
However, the numbers of visitors in this state?s four race tracks have unfortunately dwindled. And with the current economic conditions, and the need for additional educational funding, legislators and proponents are pushing for an expanded gambling law for New Hampshire.
Somewhere near The Old Man in the Mountain, a New Hampshire landmark, is a gaming complex that would soon be opened to the public in the year 2006. This complex, the White Mountain Resort and Casino, with its slot machines and traditional casino games, will also feature horse racing and dog racing. If plans go well, this complex shall be the first casino in the state of New Hampshire. A recent bill passed in the first quarter of 2005 has given license to casino gambling in New Hampshire. House Bill 0685 allows for the development of a resort casino while granting the New Hampshire Lottery Commission the duty to regulate this. The Lottery Commission selects and negotiates with casino operators, inspect their premises and equipment and adopt rules in relation to casino operations and casino financial reporting.
A bill legalizing video gambling New Hampshire?s four racetracks may possibly bring over $200 million, to cover a two-year proposed budget.
A recent amendment in New Hampshire laws has allowed for the changing of regulations of bingo and Lucky 7 scratch tickets, doubling the chance of winning.
Lottery sales in general have risen from $116 million to $175 million.
Pari-mutuel: New Hampshire Horse Racing Scene
Racing actually began at the 129th Fair in Rochester. At that time, ?legalized? gambling does not exist, however, many ?side bets? were made. Bookies were on white coats, as they stand on platforms beside the track. The Judges Stand, which today is found at the top of the Grandstand, was located opposite the finish line on the infield. This gives them an excellent view, as they carefully watch the horserace, like how they used to some 129 years ago. Mutuel betting began in 1934 and it was only the Rochester Fair that had it. Currently, modifications were made as judges are also located at the eighth, quarter and three-eighth?s points of the track.
Parimutuel: Greyhound Racing Scene
The beginning of Greyhound racing in New Hampshire can be traced back to 1972 when the Hinsdale Raceway on the Vermont border added a dog track to its existing harness-racing facility. A year after, the Seabrook Greyhound Park on the coast near Massachusetts line opened as a track exclusively for this type of racing. The Berenson?s Belmont Greyhound Track (currently the Lakes Region Greyhound Track) started in 1975.
New Hampshire Lodging Information
Seabrook Inn
Seabrook, NH
- family resort located in Hampton Beach, near
Seabrook Greyhound Park
- facilities include a petting farm and waterslide
Rochester Inn
Rochester, NH
- located in Wakefield Street, a few blocks from the Rochester Fair Race Track
- Inn has about 20 rooms only
Holiday Inn Salem
Salem, NH
- located 2 miles from Canobie Lake Amusement Park, 4 miles from Rockingham Race Track, and 1 mile from Salem Ice Center
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