New Hampshire considers legalizing online casino gambling by 2026 with proposed bill

New Hampshire lawmakers have introduced legislation that would legalize and regulate online casino gambling in the state, with the proposed system to launch by January 1, 2026, if approved. Senate Bill 168, sponsored by Senators Timothy Lang, Daniel Innis, Howard Pearl, and Keith Murphy, is currently under review by the Senate Ways and Means Committee after being referred on January 23.

The bill proposes a framework where between three and six online gaming operators would be licensed under the oversight of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, which would establish a dedicated online wagering division. To qualify, each operator must partner with an existing licensed gaming facility within the state.

The legislation sets a 45% tax on gross online gaming revenue, with proceeds allocated as follows: 50% to the state’s general fund, 25% to a special education fund, and 25% to an elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf exemption reimbursement fund. Additionally, the bill mandates that operators enforce wager limits for daily, weekly, and monthly play, "consistent with the best practices in addressing problem gambling.”

A unique aspect of the proposal is the minimum gambling age, which would be set at 18 years old, making New Hampshire the first state to allow individuals under 21 to participate in regulated online casino gaming.

This provision comes as the state simultaneously considers House Bill 83, which proposes raising the legal age for sports betting from 18 to 21. The debate over gambling age restrictions is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with lawmakers weighing concerns over the impact of early exposure to online wagering.

If passed, SB 168 would place New Hampshire among a growing list of states considering the legalization of online casino gaming in 2025. Similar bills have been introduced in Maryland, Indiana, Wyoming, New York, Massachusetts, and Hawaii, though not all efforts have advanced. Virginia, for example, has already postponed the discussion on iGaming until 2026.

New Hampshire previously attempted to legalize online casino gaming in 2023, with a bill passing the Senate before stalling in the House. The current proposal faces opposition from charitable gaming facilities and others concerned about the expansion of digital gambling in the state.

The bill also introduces strict licensing and operational guidelines, requiring age verification, identity checks, and geographic restrictions to prevent out-of-state play unless reciprocal agreements are established with other jurisdictions. It also prohibits operators from accepting bets from regions where online gambling is illegal or from countries under U.S. Treasury sanctions.

With SB 168 now under review, the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant has yet to release an official analysis of the bill’s financial impact.