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Bill would reduce mandatory charity days at gaming facilities from 10 to 7 to expand access; proponents say charities waiting to participate will benefit
Summary
Sen. Lang told the committee SB 542 reduces the mandatory 10‑day allocation to seven days, increasing the number of charities that can access gaming operator dates — from roughly 73 to 104 per his calculation — while opponents asked about equity for rural charities and operator selection criteria.
Sen. Tim Lang presented SB 542 to the House Ways and Means committee as a measure to broaden access to charitable gaming revenue. The bill reduces the mandatory minimum days that gaming operators must reserve for charities from 10 to 7, which, Lang argued, will allow more charities to participate across the state.
"We've been told by multiple facilities that they have waiting lists and they could easily take on these charities," Lang said, adding his estimate that the change would expand the number of charity partnerships available at operators from about 73 to about 104. Lang said earlier tiered formulas that allocated days by operator revenue had become "unworkable" in negotiations among operators, charities and the lottery office, and that the 7‑day approach is an incremental step to open more slots.
Members questioned several effects. Representative Schamberg argued the change could reduce fundraising opportunities for high‑revenue facilities that previously could support more charities; Lang countered that reducing guaranteed days from 10 to 7 statewide increases the total number of charities served. Members raised equity concerns for rural communities far from large gaming operators; Lang said the bill includes a local‑preference provision that gives operators a preference for charities within their executive council district but does not bar out‑of‑district applications.
A representative of the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Operators Association, Alicia Preston, testified in support and told the committee that, as the industry has grown, more charities are seeking access and the 7‑day model now appears workable. She said operators maintain local charity coordinators and application criteria.
Ending: The public hearing closed with the committee taking the bill under consideration; members asked the sponsor and the lottery commission to continue reviewing implementation details and potential impacts on host communities.
