New Hampshire’s New Casino Industry Goes Into Effect With Slot-Like VLTs
Posted on: July 1, 2025, 01:31h.
Last updated on: July 1, 2025, 01:42h.
- New Hampshire casinos can now offer video lottery terminals
- VLTs are slot-like machines
- New Hampshire casinos primarily benefit charities and nonprofit organizations
As of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the 14 casinos in New Hampshire have the privilege to swap out their historical horse racing machines in favor of slot-like video lottery terminals (VLTs).
Authorized through the state’s two-year, $15.9 billion budget that was signed into law last week by Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R), the casinos that primarily benefit charitable causes and nonprofit organizations can now house an unlimited number of VLTs. In yet another expansion of gaming in the Granite State, the Republican-led General Court agreed to lift the cap on each casino’s number of gaming positions and to allow the gaming venues to house the slot-like terminals to increase the state’s tax benefit and cover the $8 million increase in spending authorized in the budget.
Most, if not all, of the 14 casinos are expected to invest in placing VLT games on their floors. VLTs complete a spin about five seconds faster than an HHR terminal, parimutuel-based games that calculate odds and payouts based on previously run horse races.
VLTs additionally offer more titles and brands found in casinos in Las Vegas and other major gaming markets. The VLT law in New Hampshire requires the casinos to program the machines to have a “minimum average daily aggregate payback of 80 percent.” That’s in line with neighboring Massachusetts and 5% higher than in Nevada.
VLTs Projected to Benefit State, Charities
New Hampshire continues to liberalize its charitable casino industry.
In June 2023, then-Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed a bill allowing the maximum table game bets to increase from $10 to $50. Now, with VLTs and no limit on the number of machines a casino can house, the state and the charities the properties benefit stand to see considerably more revenue.
Each casino is required to benefit two licensed charities and/or nonprofits every day it’s open. The charitable benefit remains unchanged, with 35% of VLT and table game revenue allocated for the nonprofits. The state’s take, however, has increased from 25% to 31%. In exchange for the VLT privileges, the casinos’ keep has been reduced from 40% to 31.25%.
After 0.25% of the gaming revenue is directed to the Governor’s Commission on Addiction, Treatment, and Prevention, the remaining 2.5% will be deposited into the New Hampshire Gaming Commission to cover its regulatory costs.
Along with VLTs, the 2025-26 budget allows casinos to host high-stakes poker and other table game tournaments. High-stakes are defined as table game tournaments where buy-ins are upwards of $2,500. In high-stakes tournaments, 5% of the house winnings go to the state.
State projections estimate that the new gaming regulations will generate $70 million a year in new charitable gaming money.
Gaming Expansion
It was only a few years ago that New Hampshire’s gaming market was rather limited.
Though charitable gaming dates back to 1977, New Hampshire authorized retail and online sports betting in 2019, with DraftKings securing the lone license. The charitable casinos gained historical horse racing machine privileges in 2021, also known as instant racing games.
The New Hampshire Lottery, originally known as the New Hampshire Sweepstakes when it originated in 1964, is the oldest in the nation. The NH Lottery was cleared to operate online lottery games in 2018.
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