Gambling in New Hampshire

Introduction

Talking about the legality of gambling in New Hampshire, this US state could be described as neither the most liberal nor the most stringent one. The state's gambling landscape is primarily centered around the New Hampshire Lottery, sports betting, parimutuel wagering, and charitable gaming.

While horse racing and parimutuel wagering were once prominent in New Hampshire, the state no longer hosts live racing events. The last active tracks, Rockingham Park and Seabrook Greyhound Park, both ceased operations in the late 2000s.

In 2019, New Hampshire legalized retail and online sports betting, with DraftKings selected as the exclusive operator. Sports betting is available online and through self-serve kiosks at retail locations in Dover, Manchester, Seabrook, and Nashua.

Additionally, in 2021, the state legalized Instant Racing, or historical horse racing, allowing charitable gaming facilities to offer this form of wagering. Charitable gaming is another legal form of gambling in New Hampshire, with organizations allowed to host events such as poker, bingo, raffles, and Lucky 7 pull-tab games.

Focus on both ensuring compliance and generating revenue for the state, The New Hampshire Lottery Commission oversees most gambling activities. Operates under the Lottery Commission, The Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority (GROA), helps enforce the regulations related to all approved forms of gambling.

Is It Legal to Gamble Online in New Hampshire?

At the moment of writing this article, New Hampshire still belongs to US states where online gambling is not legal. This includes typical casino games such as slot games, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and other table games, as well as online poker.

Without a locally licensed online gambling platform, players can try their luck with the following two options:

• Offshore online casino- quite a solid number of online casinos welcome players form the United States; if selecting these, make sure to check whether the platform has a valid license in the first place, as US-friendly casinos often tend to be unlicensed
• Sweepstakes/ social casinos- when visiting these platforms, consumers can explore online games that mirror real-life casino games such as poker, slots, roulette, or jackpots but without spending real money or generating real money wins; they have special in-house currencies which are used for playing games or taking part in bonuses, tournaments, etc.

Worth noting is that in either of these two, players from the Granite State should check country restrictions. In an ideal case scenario, the Terms & Conditions should contain the list of restricted countries, so that players can be clear on whether they should attempt to register at all.

Some consumers try to bypass the restriction by using a VPN, but that’s not recommended because casinos have the tools to recognize that. Besides, if the casinos spots that a player has registered from a restricted country, they can easily refuse to process payments and credit winnings.

Which Online Casino Games Can Be Played in New Hampshire?

The answer to this question pretty much depends on the individual preferences and the selected platform.

For example, if a player decides to visit an offshore online casino, the options are abundant, ranging from fun-filled slot games, and all-time favorite table games, all the way to entertaining game shows and sophisticated live dealer games. Crash games are growing in popularity as well, being an excellent choice for fans of fast-paced gameplay.

In case they decide to stick with social casinos and sweepstakes casinos, the options will be more or less the same, but slightly limited. These platforms mostly include versatile slot games and to a certain extent some blackjack, baccarat, and roulette games. The selection of games mainly depends on the providers the specific casino cooperates with.

For those who prefer sports betting, the available options include those offered by DraftKings, such as NFL (New England Patriots), NBA (Boston Celtics), MLB (Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays), and NHL (Boston Bruins).

Sweepstakes casinos

Sweepstakes are not inherently unlawful in New Hampshire if a sweepstakes casino provides a free entry method and complies with legal structures, as then it technically avoids being classified as unlawful under RSA 647:2. Unlawful gambling generally requires consideration—that is, payment or something of value given in exchange for the chance to win. Legitimate sweepstakes comply with laws requiring a "no purchase necessary" option, meaning participants can enter without spending money. This removes the element of consideration, a key factor that defines unlawful gambling.

Gold Coins, Sweeps Coins and Prize Mechanics

Sweepstakes casinos often use virtual coins (e.g., gold coins for fun play and sweeps coins for prizes). Players can acquire these coins through free methods like promotions, giveaways, completing gamification tasks and missions, even simple actions like daily logins, or purchase bundles with bonus sweeps coins included.

If you’re wondering how you can play with “pretend” in-house currencies but actually cashout real money, it’s the most common question, and the answer is simple - it’s not traditional gambling because you don’t wager real money. You’re using fun coins to bet in games, but you can win sweeps coins that CAN be redeemed for real value prizes at a stated rate.  

The gist is this:

• Using sweeps coins (earned for free or as part of a purchase bundle).
• Offering free methods of entry to comply with legal requirements.
• Allowing cashouts of sweeps coin winnings into real money after meeting specific conditions.

Gold Coins (GC) to Play for Fun

Gold coins are for fun and entertainment—like a practice mode with no real money involved. You can:

• Earn them as free daily bonuses.
• Buy them in bundles if you want to play more.
• Use them to play games like slots, blackjack, or poker, but you can’t cash out any winnings from gold coins.

They’re purely about enjoying gaming without any cash rewards. 

Sweeps Coins (SC): Play to Win Real Money

Sweeps coins are where the magic happens. They let you play games and win prizes that you can actually cash out. Here's how it works:

• You get sweeps coins for free— by mail, by request to support, as a bonus when you buy gold coins, through promotions and various other ways.
• When you bet sweeps coins in games and win, those winnings go back into your sweeps coin balance.

Once you’ve stacked up enough sweeps coins, you can turn them into real money. You will likely need to verify your identity first and this is where the process resembles traditional casinos. There are minimum redemption limits and allowed payment options, both of which depend on the sweepstakes/social casino itself. 

When you’ve met all the requirements and are ready to cash out, you simply request it, and the casino converts your sweeps coins into real money. Depending on the casino, you’ll get it as a bank transfer, check, crypto, or other payment methods. 

Are Bonuses Available at Sweepstakes Casinos?

Yes! This is one of the highlights of these gaming sites and many are very focused on providing rich and diverse promotional programs. Any kind of bonus you see at regular casinos is likely to be found at sweeps, from welcome/sign-up offers and free coins to reloads, new game promotions and refer-a-friend bonuses, even loyalty programs. 

Gamification and elaborate reward structures are combined with social media channels and the social elements themselves, like chats, to always give you something to look forward to and engage with other players for interaction, experiencing new games and simply having fun. 

Online Sweepstakes Games 

Don’t worry - specialty or simple games are not the backbone here. There are actually casino-style games to play and many are the very same RNG-approved slots, crash games, keno, bingo and table games like blackjack, roulette, craps, poker found at licensed real-money sites. Game developers are moving into the sweepstakes market and offering products for this gaming model that complies with state laws. 

Some sites focus only on online slots, while others try to attract a wider audience with other genres and game types, but the gameplay experience closely resembles the real deal. Play slots for fast-paced and simple fun, card games to sharpen your skills and even live dealers for real-time interaction at the tables. 

The list below shows sweepstakes casinos in New Hampshire - read our unbiased reviews, check the rating and choose your favorite: 

Sports Betting in New Hampshire

Having officially approved online sports betting on December 30, 2019, New Hampshire became the 16th state in the U.S. to regulate this form of gambling.

In terms of regulations, New Hampshire has some specific restrictions for sports betting. For example, wagering on college sports events held within the state is prohibited, and bets cannot be placed on New Hampshire-based college teams, regardless of where they are playing.

Compared to other states in which online sports betting is legal as well, New Hampshire’s sports wagering landscape is unique in a few ways, notably in its legal minimum betting age of 18, which is lower than the 21-year age requirement found in most other states.

Additionally, New Hampshire has a single legal mobile sportsbook, DraftKings, which operates both online and at retail locations across the state. Based in Boston DraftKings offers a variety of betting options, from traditional sports wagers to more specialized bets. The app is easy to navigate, which makes it accessible for both beginners and seasoned sports bettors.

While DraftKings is the sole operator of online sports betting in New Hampshire, the state also has several retail sportsbooks where bettors can place in-person wagers. These retail locations include Filotimo Casino & Restaurant in Dover and Manchester, and The Brook in Seabrook.

Despite its advantages, DraftKings is not without its drawbacks. Although the platform is easy to use and offers a wide range of betting options, its odds are often less competitive compared to other sportsbooks. Additionally, some users have expressed dissatisfaction with DraftKings' customer support, criticizing its poor responsiveness in the first place.

Gambling Regulators in New Hampshire

Established to ensure integrity and public confidence in gaming regulation The Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority (GROA) is tasked to oversee and assess the current regulation of gaming activities authorized and ensure the companies are compliant with the relevant laws. GROA operates as a part of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission.

What needs to be mentioned is that while making recommendations, the Authority relies on the regulatory frameworks of other US states. The list includes but is not limited to Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Nevada, and New Jersey.

In addition to this, in 2019, the New Hampshire Council for Responsible Gambling (NHCRG) was also established, through the same legislation as the one which enabled the launch of legal sports betting. The Council’s duty is to educate NH players experiencing gambling-related harm and give them directions for treatment.

Depositing and Withdrawing when in NH

The table below provides a complete insight into withdrawal/deposit and banking term rankings in New Hampshire. By clicking on the casino’s name, you’ll get a full insight into the withdrawal and deposit score of each casino, helping you evaluate which payment method could work the best for you.

If you’re interested in getting to know banking options for US players in general, then check out the page Deposit and withdrawal methods for US players

 

Conclusion

New Hampshire's gambling landscape has evolved over the years. Once known for its live horse racing, the state no longer hosts racing events, but despite that, players are given more than a well-diversified selection of games to choose from.

Both retail and online sports betting were legalized in 2019, with DraftKings chosen as the exclusive operator. The state's legalization of Instant Racing and the thriving charitable gaming sector further diversify its gambling offerings. Charitable gaming allows organizations to host various events like poker and bingo, while Instant Racing adds a modern twist to traditional wagering.

On the other hand, New Hampshire does not yet allow online gambling for real money, including casino games like slots and poker. Players interested in online gaming can explore offshore or social casino platforms, although caution is advised due to licensing concerns and geographical restrictions.

Related Reading

• RealMoneyAction
• The Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority (GROA)
• New Hampshire Council for Responsible Gambling (NHCRG)

Written by: Michael Shackleford