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Bill proposing local 'enterprise tax' on large charitable gaming facilities draws opposition from operators and municipal groups
Summary
House Bill 688, which would create a local "enterprise tax" option for municipalities hosting large charitable gaming or historic horse‑racing facilities, drew sharp criticism from gaming operators and municipal representatives, and prompted DRA questions about draft language and implementation authority.
House Bill 688 drew extended testimony and detailed questioning as committee members weighed a proposal to allow municipalities an optional new local tax on large historic horse‑racing/charitable gaming facilities.
Representative Bill Ohm (Hillsborough 10) framed the bill as a short‑term mitigation measure for host communities while the Legislature considers comprehensive casino legislation. He described a Nashua example in which converting a large retail box to a casino will materially change local costs, particularly public safety and services, and he said an optional local enterprise tax — calculated in the draft as up to twice the assessed property value for facilities meeting size thresholds — would provide a local mitigation tool until a broader scheme (historically proposals of 3% of gross slot revenue) could be enacted.
Opponents from the gaming industry, charitable…
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