ECL Entertainment unveils plans for $250 million Nash Casino in New Hampshire

ECL Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based gaming company, has announced plans for a new charitable gaming casino, The Nash Casino, in Nashua, New Hampshire. The $250 million project will be located at the former Sears site in the Pheasant Lane Mall and is scheduled to open this winter.

The two-story, 180,000-square-foot venue, initially referred to as The Mint during the permitting process, will dedicate 130,000 square feet to charitable gaming. The casino will feature over 60 table games, 1,200 slot machines, and historic horse racing machines, with the potential to add 300 more slot machines in the future. Additionally, the facility will house three restaurants offering a range of dining options from fine dining to grab-and-go.

Interior construction is currently underway, and an employment information center is set to open later this summer at a nearby Target store. The project is expected to create about 600 to 700 new jobs, contributing $22 million annually in payroll and related costs.

ECL Entertainment, in partnership with Clairvest, said it aims to establish The Nash Casino as a leading gaming operation in Southern New Hampshire. The companies have previously acquired the Lucky Moose Casino and Tavern and The River Casino & Sports Bar in Nashua.

The casino will operate under New Hampshire law, which requires 35% of profits to be donated to registered non-profits. Plans for the casino were approved by the Nashua planning board last year, and the facility is expected to generate $24 million annually for over 100 local nonprofits.

"Our goal is to create a vibrant space that not only provides top-notch entertainment and drives economic growth in the region but also significantly supports the greater Nashua community through charitable contributions," ECL Entertainment Managing Partner Marc Falcone said in a statement.

Community reactions to the project have been mixed. Some residents expressed concerns about the potential for negative behavior, while others welcomed the economic benefits and job opportunities, according to local media

The Nash Casino is part of a broader expansion of gaming facilities in New Hampshire, with other projects also underway in the state. Earlier in the month, a court ruling cleared the way for Concord Casino owner Andy Sanborn’s Loudon Road casino development.