Sponsor seeks to tether online casino games to physical facilities; opponents warn of addiction and local economic loss

Senate Bill 168 would permit online versions of casino games — such as poker or blackjack delivered through a licensed operator’s platform — when tethered to an in‑state, licensed facility, the bill’s sponsor said during a committee hearing.

Sponsor’s intent and amendment: Sen. Tim Lang, prime sponsor of the measure, described SB 168 as an effort to authorize online gaming while treating remote play the same as on-site play at charitable gaming facilities: an online player would be “treated the same as if the person was sitting in the facility,” Lang said. Lang said the amendment corrected an earlier drafting error that had mistakenly omitted charities from the revenue split.

Fiscal estimates and uses: Lang told the committee the amendment restores charity distributions and that a legislative estimate placed state revenue from the measure at about $39 million. He said the bill would direct some revenue to education, keep charities whole and deposit the balance in the general fund to help address state budget shortfalls and state personnel costs.

Industry and public-health testimony: Alicia Preston of the Charitable Gaming Operators Association opposed the measure, saying brick-and-mortar facilities have invested heavily in physical infrastructure and that online access could reduce on-site traffic, hurt restaurants and entertainment venues and threaten jobs. “If people aren’t staying — if people are staying home to do it from their couch — they’re not going to the restaurants, the bars, and potential activities,” Preston said.

Public-health testimony came from Briandora Schwall of the National Campaign for Fair Gambling, who warned of increases in problem-gambling help-line calls and social costs in jurisdictions that legalize iGaming. Schwall cited national studies and state experience showing helpline calls rising and estimated millions in social costs: “There are an estimated 9,000,000 Americans that currently struggle with gambling addiction. An estimated 25,000 of them reside here in New Hampshire,” she said, and called for significantly expanded funding for prevention, treatment and research.

Committee action: The committee held testimony and recessed for further consideration; the public record excerpt does not show a committee vote on SB 168 in the provided transcript.

What to watch: Questions for lawmakers include how much revenue would be dedicated to problem-gambling prevention and treatment, whether brick-and-mortar operators would be protected from cannibalization, and the precise mechanism to tether online play to licensed facilities if enacted.