HB 737 would give municipalities a local option on games of chance; debate centers on opt‑in vs opt‑out and grandfathering

Representative Jerry Stringham presented House Bill 737 as a local‑control measure to allow municipalities to opt in or opt out of games of chance and brick‑and‑mortar gaming facilities. He characterized the measure as a facility‑level local option, not a prohibition on specific games, modeled after existing local option authority for Keno and other lottery products. The sponsor said a similar bill passed the House overwhelmingly in the prior biennium but did not survive the committee of conference.

Supporters — including former Representative Pat Abrahami, former Littleton select‑people and local citizens — said local voters should be able to weigh whether the character and economic profile of their towns are compatible with large gaming facilities. Abrahami and others said the measure should protect existing licensed facilities (grandfathering) while giving future host communities an ability to approve or prohibit new operations; some witnesses preferred an opt‑in design while others accepted an opt‑out compromise.

Opponents raised concerns about the bill's practical effects on charities that use gaming revenue and said zoning tools already permit local regulation in many towns. Testimony from industry and charitable gaming representatives noted that charitable gaming operations and historic‑racing facilities are regulated differently under current statute and that any new local option should be carefully drafted to avoid unintended consequences for existing licensees.

Several witnesses proposed technical changes — including explicit language about grandfathering facilities that already hold lottery or operator licenses and clarifying the abandonment period before a ban would apply. The committee received the testimony and no vote was taken at the hearing.