The state of New Hampshire has become the sixth state to legalize sports betting in 2019.
A piece of sports betting legislation, HB 480, was signed into law on Friday morning by Governor Chris Sununu after lawmakers approved the sports betting measure in June.
New Hampshire will now join seven other states that have legalized sports betting and are currently pending launch.
A date has yet to be set for the launch of sports betting in New Hampshire.
A closer look at New Hampshire’s sports betting law
Under HB 480, a Division of Sports Wagering will be created within the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. The Division of Sports Wagering will be responsible for regulating the state’s sports betting Industry.
The legislation also legalizes land-based, online and mobile sports wagering across the state.
The regulator will be able to award 10 land-based licenses and five online licenses. Sports betting licenses will be awarded to operators through a competitive bidding process. The law allows the regulator to negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with each licensee.
Bettors in the Granite State must be 18 years old and can create online accounts remotely from anywhere within state lines. The bill also permits in-play sports betting via online platforms only.
New Hampshire’s betting laws prohibit wagering on collegiate events that take place within state lines.
Sports betting in New England
The passage of New Hampshire’s sports betting bill makes it the second New England state to legalize sports betting.
Rhode Island legalized sports betting in 2018 and is currently the only New England state with a legal and regulated sports betting market.
Maine looked as if it would legalize sports betting this year after the legislature approved LD 553 in June. But, on 3 July, Governor Janet Mills announced that she would not sign Maine’s sports betting bill into law.
Several sports betting bills are also being considered in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.
