Bill > HB247

This bill allows municipalities in New Hampshire to decide through a local referendum whether to permit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing (a type of betting where the amount wagered is pooled and the winners share the total pool, specifically using recordings of past horse races). The bill establishes a process where towns and cities can place the question on their annual town meeting or municipal election ballots, with a provision that requires a public hearing at least 15-30 days before voting. The referendum question will ask voters directly: "Shall we allow the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing within the town or city?" If a majority votes "Yes," licensed lottery entities can offer these wagers in that municipality. Municipalities can also later vote to rescind their approval, and unincorporated places can approve such wagers through a county delegation vote. The bill includes a special provision allowing existing licensed facilities to continue operating until January 1, 2026, even in municipalities that have not yet approved the wagers. The lottery commission will maintain a list of municipalities where such wagers are permitted, and no new licenses will be issued for locations in municipalities that have not approved the wagers after January 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0381&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB247