HB728 Authorizing video lottery terminals at charity gaming facilities and repealing historic horse racing licensing.
Authorizing video lottery terminals at charity gaming facilities and repealing historic horse racing licensing.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Concerning
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
The bill generates state revenue (approximately 6% of gross terminal revenue plus 1/4% for problem gaming services and 4.75% for retirement systems after charity distributions), but also creates new gambling losses for participating residents.
Your Community
While charities receive 35% of collected revenue and the bill requires responsible gaming plans, it expands gambling access in local communities without clear evidence of net community benefit beyond charitable distributions.
Your Freedom
The bill does not restrict resident rights, but expands gambling access by introducing a new form of gaming at existing facilities, which some may view as enabling or as expanding personal choice.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 01/07/2026 House Journal 1 P. 80
Sponsor
Fred Doucette (R)
The Short Version
This bill authorizes video lottery terminals at existing charity gaming facilities (bingo halls, etc.) and repeals historic horse racing licensing. It creates a new gambling revenue stream where 30% of terminal revenues go to the state (via lottery commission and retirement systems) and charities, with the remainder to operators—introducing a new form of gambling infrastructure in NH while generating state tax revenue.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Current holders of charity gaming licenses (game operator employers licensed under RSA 287-D who held or were eligible for historic horse racing licenses)
- ▲ Charitable organizations receiving 35% of collected revenues
- ▲ State via lottery commission tax collections and retirement system funding
- ▲ Residents who choose to gamble on video lottery terminals
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Residents who gamble and experience losses (the 70% of revenue not returned as prizes)
- ▼ Individuals with problem gambling behaviors (despite required responsible gaming plans)
- ▼ Those who view expansion of gambling as negative for community health
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.