New Hampshire sports betting is starting to flourish, even though the state has some of the strictest gambling laws in the United States, but that didn’t stop it from legalizing and launching sports betting. The sports betting industry continues to grow throughout the United States, and New Hampshire has helped.
Commercial and tribal casinos were not allowed to open for the longest time in New Hampshire, making launching sports betting rather difficult. New Hampshire is taking the approach used in the UK by allowing retail locations to offer sports betting.
Even though there are some strict gambling laws in the state, the sports betting laws are pretty wide open. Sportsbooks have plenty of freedom when offering bets, and several different sports or leagues are on the table.
The state has yet to see the sports betting industry take off, but that could change here soon. Look for 2021 to be a huge year for the sports betting industry in this New England state.
The History behind Legal Sports Betting in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has some very strict gambling laws in place, which dates back to 1906. An illegal gambling operation was launched in Rockingham Park, but it lasted only three days before the authorities shut down the operation.
In 1963, New Hampshire became the first state to legalize a lottery draw, challenging some previous gambling laws. Horse racing and parimutuel betting have also been outlawed in the state, with no live races scheduled.
In 2016, multiple casinos were able to open their doors, changing the state’s gambling laws forever. New Hampshire was looking for new sources of revenue, and casino gambling provided that.
When the US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, lawmakers in the state started to explore the sports betting industry. On July 12, 2019, Governor Sununu officially signed a law that allows for sports betting in New Hampshire.
The law allows for both retail and mobile sports betting throughout the state, but there are just 15 total skins available. Ten of these licenses will be available for retail sports betting locations, while the other five will be for mobile operators.
Since there are a minimal amount of casinos in the state, other retail locations will be able to apply for a retail license. This is a unique approach to sports betting, but the state didn’t have any other options.
The New Hampshire State Lottery oversees the sports betting industry in the state, and it has selected Intralot to help with retail sports betting.
Financial History behind Legal Sports Betting in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is relatively small compared to other states that have launched sports betting, but the industry’s financial history still shows plenty of growth. Like other states, the industry came to a screeching halt in the early part of 2020, but things are now back on track in New Hampshire.
Things got rolling in New Hampshire in January 2020, and the state posted a total sports betting handle of $16.8 million. Revenue that month was over $1.7 million, which was impressive for the first full month.
Handle went all the way up to $22.1 million during February 2020, and it appeared that things were starting to take off. When the COVID-19 pandemic started to take off in the United States, it had a major impact on sports betting in New Hampshire.
From March-July 2020, the state only saw a combined betting handle of less than $28 million as most live sporting events were shut down. Other states were in a similar position, but it crippled New Hampshire in its attempt to get sports betting up and running.
Things started to pick back up in August, and the state posted some impressive numbers in September. It appears that the recent trend will keep going, and New Hampshire will head into 2021 with plenty of momentum.
In August, the sports betting handle was over $27.5 million, which was a new record for the state. Revenue for that month was just under $1.4 million, which helped the state start to recover from the pandemic.
September brought in more than $41.3 million in sports betting handle, which again set a new record. The launch of the 2020 NFL season helped the state bring in more than $2.2 million in total revenue.
Sportsbook Apps in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, sports betting laws allow for up to five online/mobile operators to receive a sports betting license. As of November 2020, DraftKings Sportsbook has been the only operator to receive a license.
DraftKings Sportsbook was the first available betting option in the entire state, and the New Hampshire State Lottery is set to allow that operator to dominate the market for quite some time. It doesn’t appear that there is any rush to approve additional mobile betting licenses.
If and when the state lottery does look to add additional mobile operators, there will likely be a long list of companies looking to enter the state. The New England region could become a huge force in the sports betting industry in 2021, and New Hampshire will play an important role.
Mobile operators will have to partner with a retail operator before launching sports betting in New Hampshire. Retail operators won’t have any trouble finding potential partners, and DraftKings could eventually be facing some stiff competition.
Here are some potential mobile operators that would look to break into the New Hampshire industry.
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetRivers
- William Hill
- Points Bet
- FOX Bet
- BetMGM
- Barstool
Obviously, all of these operators would not be eligible to receive a sports betting license in the state as there are only four others available. This will likely create some good competition between potential operators.
Landlocked Locations to Bet on Sports in New Hampshire
Retail betting was expected to drive sports betting in the state of New Hampshire at some point, that has not been the case since the industry was launched. It has taken the state a long time to launch retail sports betting, but 2021 should be a big year for this part of the industry.
The state has granted ten physical sportsbook licenses, and all of these licenses must be applied for. There are 15 eligible retail locations that can apply for a license, but only ten have applied at this point.
There are also five other skins available, allowing these retail locations to partner with a third-party sports betting operator. Most other states that have launched sports betting have used casinos to offer sports betting, but that isn’t required in New Hampshire.
These 10 locations below have applied for a sports betting license, but only one of them has received a license. Look for the
- Belmont
- Derry
- Hampton
- Hinsdale
- Hudson
- Newmarket
- Pelham
- Rollinsford
- Salem
- Seabrook
In September, the DraftKings SportsBook at The Brook was the first retail sports betting to launch in New Hampshire. It only made sense that DraftKings was the company behind the launch since it was the first group to launch a mobile app.
It’s unclear exactly when the other retail locations will launch, as each community still has to approve the project. 2021 appears to be a big year for the retail sports betting industry in New Hampshire, and the race to launch second is now underway.
Sports Teams to Bet on in New Hampshire
Even though there aren’t any professional sports teams in New Hampshire, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some great teams to bet on. Sports fans in New Hampshire have plenty of teams to root for as the New England region is loaded with popular teams.
New England is close in proximity to Boston, Massachusetts, and that is where a lot of fans choose to follow teams. Since football is king throughout the United States, the New England Patriots are a very popular team in New Hampshire.
The Patriots aren’t the only team to root for, though, as New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey also offer football betting options. There are other popular teams as well, but most bettors tend to focus on football in this state.
The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are two of the most storied franchises in the NBA, and both teams help drive sports betting in the state. The NBA has also grown in popularity over the past decade, and fans in New Hampshire have plenty of teams to bet on.
Since betting on college sporting events is legal in NewHampshire, that also provides some other terrific betting opportunities. The New Hampshire Wildcats and the Dartmouth Big Green are both popular teams throughout the state, especially during football and basketball season.
When the sports betting industry in New Hampshire starts to take off in 2021, there will be more than enough teams to help drive the betting.
FAQ for betting in New Hampshire
When was sports betting legalized in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire became the 17th state to legalize sports betting when Governor Chris Sununu signed a sports betting bill into law on July 12, 2019. New Hampshire became just the second state in New England to legalize the industry.
When did sports betting officially launch?
The DraftKings Sportsbook officially launched sports betting in early 2020, but it wasn’t long before the industry was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What group oversees sports betting in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire State Lottery has been chosen to oversee the sports betting industry in the state. This is a similar approach that other states have taken when legalizing sports betting.
What is the legal betting age in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire law states that anyone 18 years or older can legally place a bet on a sporting event as long as they are doing so at a regulated sportsbook.
Are retail betting locations available in the state?
As of November 1, 2020, there is just one retail sports betting location currently up and running in the state. State law allows for ten retail locations to be issued licenses, and the New Hampshire Lottery is currently reviewing additional applications.
Can I place a bet through a mobile app?
Yes, the DraftKings Sportsbook app is already up and running in New Hampshire, and there could be four more set to join at some point. Mobile operators must partner with a retail location to offer mobile betting.
Are there any professional sports teams in New Hampshire?
The state is not home to any professional sports teams, at least at the Major league level. Some minor league teams are popular in the state.
Can I bet on collegiate athletic events in New Hampshire?
Yes, state law allows for betting on collegiate events, including those that occur within the state.