New Hampshire Establishes Council for Responsible Gaming
New Hampshire created the Council for Responsible Gaming on Friday, as the state tries to catch up with the social costs of an expansive casino sector.
- State creates Council for Responsible Gaming to address rising addiction issues
- Casino industry’s rapid growth increases social and policy challenges
- New safeguards include outreach to healthcare providers and expanded self-exclusion programs
What began with bingo-style operations has grown into 13 casinos, slot machines and a larger sports-betting market.
Churchill Downs recently unveiled plans to renovate its Salem property worth $180-$200 million. Rockingham Grand Casino’s renovation will include a three-floor, 160,000-square-foot venue with expanded gaming, a 900-seat entertainment venue, and multiple F&B concepts
Pressure Builds as Gaming Grows
According to Concord Monitor, sports betting has generated more than $153 million for education since its 2019 launch, including about $39 million in the latest fiscal year. That financial upside has sharpened the policy debate.
Former state senator Lou D’Allesandro, now a council board member, said, “When you have gaming and an expansion of gaming at this level, you would invite problems, and the problems are addiction.”
New Council, Broader Outreach
The state took a modest step last year by creating a voluntary self-exclusion list that now applies across all casinos once a player opts out at one venue.
Council members want to go further, including outreach to doctors so gambling questions become part of routine patient intake.
Senator Tim Lang said New Hampshire is still moving too slowly on the issue; “we are behind 8 ball on this topic, and we’re trying to play catch-up.”
Board member Jim Rafferty argued the new group intends to confront the problem directly.
He said “there are problems. We’re going to step up to them. We’re going to do and be effective in trying to combat gambling addiction problems.”
