New Hampshire Senate could approve amended sports gambling bill

New Hampshire most likely won’t see more casino action, but sports gambling could be coming soon. After lawmakers pulled out their pencils and erasers to make some changes to a sports gambling bill earlier this month, things are moving forward and the light at the end of the tunnel continues to shine more brightly.

The Senate put the subject to a voice vote yesterday and the “ayes” have it. The state’s governor, Chris Sununu, is in favor of the bill, which will see the New Hampshire State Lottery Commission (NHSLC) manage the activity. The bill already made it past a House vote, but has to return to the chamber in order to address the changes introduced by the Senate.

The author of the bill, Representative Timothy Lang, asserts, “I anticipate the House will concur with the Senate and it will pass. If it does go to a committee of conference, I expect they will work it out, but I honestly believe they will just concur on the House floor and be done.”

When the bill went before the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee, that group suggest that the number of mobile operators be capped at five. The suggestion was accepted and turned into an amendment to the bill, which helped it to be approved by the Senate. Lang adds, “The cap of five clearly defines that it’s not a monopolistic venture.”