New Hampshire lawmakers reject proposal to raise sports betting age from 18 to 21

New Hampshire will remain one of the few states where 18-year-olds can legally place sports bets, following a decision by lawmakers to reject a proposal that sought to raise the minimum gambling age to 21.  

During its latest executive session, the House Ways and Means Committee voted 11-7 against advancing House Bill 83, determining it was “inexpedient to legislate.” This decision effectively halts the proposal’s progress, ensuring that young adults in the state can continue participating in sports betting.  

New Hampshire is one of only four U.S. jurisdictions, alongside Kentucky, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C., that permit sports betting at 18. Supporters of the bill, including the Massachusetts Council on Gaming, expressed concerns about problem gambling among younger bettors and advocated for aligning the sports betting age with other age-restricted activities such as alcohol and tobacco use.  

However, opponents argued that young adults should have the freedom to make their own financial decisions. Rep. Cyril Aures, R-Argyle, defended keeping the age limit at 18: “If (young people) want to bet with their money, let them bet.”

Others pointed to the potential impact on state revenue, as raising the betting age was projected to cost New Hampshire an estimated $320,000 in 2026, with that figure expected to double annually. 

Since launching online sports betting in December 2019, New Hampshire has partnered exclusively with DraftKings as its sole digital sportsbook operator. The state also hosts four retail sportsbooks, Filotimo Casino and Restaurant in Dover and Manchester, the Brook in Seabrook, and Gate City Casino in Nashua.

While sports betting is widely accessible, New Hampshire prohibits wagers on in-state college teams and player-specific prop bets, following a model similar to neighboring states like Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island.  

With sports betting continuing to grow in popularity, New Hampshire is also considering broader gaming expansion. A new proposal, Senate Bill 168, seeks to legalize online casino gaming by January 1, 2026.

Introduced by Sens. Timothy Lang, Daniel Innis, Howard Pearl, and Keith Murphy, the bill would allow for up to six licensed online gaming operators, with oversight from the New Hampshire Lottery. Notably, SB 168 maintains an 18+ age requirement, which would make New Hampshire the only state to allow online casino play for individuals under 21.  

The potential for expanded gambling comes as the state sees steady growth in sports betting revenue. New Hampshire’s sports betting market generated $80 million in revenue in 2023, up from $66.7 million the previous year, despite a slight decline in total betting handle.

The hold percentage, the amount sportsbooks retain after payouts, also increased from 7.5% to 9.7%. Lawmakers attempted to pass online casino legislation in 2023 but failed to secure enough support.