New Hampshire’s Senate narrowly advanced SB 104 by a 13-11 vote, moving a proposal to legalize and regulate online casino games to the Senate Finance Committee. The bill is not law, and its close passage leaves its prospects uncertain.

Action Network reported that the Senate vote took place on Monday, September 28. The next committee review will test whether the proposal can maintain enough support to proceed through the Legislature.

What SB 104 would allow

SB 104 would put online casino gaming under state oversight and permit digital versions of games including blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat and craps. The proposal includes age and identity checks, geolocation technology, wagering limits and voluntary self-exclusion options.

Its funding plan is a central part of the case made by supporters. About 35% of net profits would go to scholarships for students in the Community College System of New Hampshire, while roughly 10% would be allocated to the New Hampshire Lottery for administrative costs.

Lottery projections cited in Action Network’s report estimate online casino gaming could generate about $5 million in its first year, $20 million in its second and $30 million by its third. Senate President Jeb Bradley and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Tim Lang are among the proposal’s supporters, who argue the market could provide public revenue and a legal alternative to unregulated gambling websites. Other states’ approaches to regulated online gambling, including Alberta’s online gambling market, offer a point of comparison for operator participation and player protections.

Charitable gaming remains a point of conflict

The bill follows earlier efforts that failed to secure final approval. A previous SB 104 advanced through the Senate in 2023 but stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee, which unanimously recommende...