As the Northeast U.S. gambling market becomes increasingly saturated, lawmakers in New Hampshire are again looking to get in on the action.
In a 13-11 vote this week, the Senate narrowly passed a bill allowing two casinos sharing a total of 5,000 video slot machines and 240 table games to generate $120 million in initial licensing fees and a cut from gaming revenues thereafter.
The bill passed by the Senate would establish a New Hampshire Gaming Commission to license up to two casinos for a ten-year period. The state government's cut would be 35 percent of gross slot machine revenue and 18 percent of gross table game revenue.
Last year, the House killed a similar bill, as the issue has become a perennial one in New Hampshire.
Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan has previously voiced support for a single casino to bring new revenue into the state, but it is unclear whether she will support the measure as approved by the Senate this week.
Throughout New England, which in 2010 had a total population of approximately 14.4 million people, New Hampshire and Vermont are the only remaining states without legalized tribal or commercial casino gambling.
Massachusetts has already licensed MGM Resorts International to build an $800 million casino in Springfield; Wynn Resorts to build a $1.6 billion casino outside Boston in Everett; and Penn National Gaming to operate a $225 million slots parlor at the Plainridge Harness race track in Plainville. Additionally, the state is aiming to authorize a third commercial casino in the southeastern part of the commonwealth.
Connecticut, which currently has two tribal casinos, is eying opening up to three smaller casinos to fend off competition from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where an expansion of current casino amenities is planned for the same reason.
For a look at the bill, which will now be sent to the New Hampshire House, click here.