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Bill would give towns local control to bar new casino openings while protecting existing operators
Summary
House Bill 737‑L would create a municipal local‑option to prohibit new brick‑and‑mortar games of chance (casinos) while protecting current operators; sponsors said the measure sprang from local opposition and includes provisions to preserve investments by existing licensees.
Representative Stringham introduced House Bill 737‑L to the Senate Ways and Means Committee as a local‑option measure that would allow municipalities to prohibit new brick‑and‑mortar games of chance while preserving protections for existing operators.
"This bill is not a gambling bill, but a local option bill," Representative Stringham said. He told senators the measure would give municipalities the same kind of local control they already have for Keno and would preserve operators' investments by allowing an exit only if a facility is abandoned for four years or never opens within six years of being permitted.
Testimony traced the bill's origin to a local meeting in Littleton where residents objected to a proposed gaming facility. Dr. Deborah Warner said that meeting prompted municipal action and a broader push for statutory change. Warner told the committee Littleton residents were overwhelmingly opposed and that the town had discovered the state's existing law left municipalities little practical authority to limit charitable gaming facilities.
Lottery Commission staff and other witnesses clarified technical points. Charlie McIntyre said the bill targets the Games of Chance employer license and noted that the draft language should not unintentionally affect bingo, which is regulated separately (RSA 287‑E). McIntyre also suggested clearer public‑facing language: "We call them facilities," he said when discussing an awkward phrase in the draft that used "brick and mortar."
Committee discussion covered: - The bill's local‑option mechanics: voluntary municipal action to prohibit new facilities, with protections for currently operating and licensed entities. - Definitions and drafting: staff proposed revising phrasing (for example, replacing "brick and mortar" with "facilities") and clarifying statutory cross‑references to the games‑of‑chance employer licensing provisions. - A non‑germane amendment (No. 1468) was circulated for future consideration; it would amend HB 737 to address licensing fees and other lottery/licensing matters.
The committee closed the public hearing on HB 737 and signaled additional amendment work and a scheduled non‑germane amendment discussion at a future meeting.
