New Hampshire

Sports betting in both retail and online formats has been fully legal in New Hampshire since 2019. However, the Granite State’s sports betting legislation revolves around a monopoly, which means DraftKings has complete control over the sports betting scene.

New Hampshire bettors can legally wager on collegiate sports events but with restrictions. They cannot wager on college basketball games being played in the state or bet on any in-state college, no matter where the game or event occurs. Outside of in-state colleges, NH bettors are also not permitted to wager on politics or eSports.

Horse racing is also legal in New Hampshire despite the state's lack of racetracks. Fantasy competitions are also legal in the state, so residents have full access to a handful of DFS products, including DraftKings and FanDuel DFS.

Online sports betting in The Granite State

House Bill 480 legalized sports betting in New Hampshire in 2019, but the state soon signed two more bills into law in 2021. One of the bills, HB 330, allowed residents to place in-game wagers, which was not offered initially when sports betting was legalized.

Sports betting in NH operates in three tiers: tier one includes pre-game wagers, tier two includes in-game wagers, and tier three includes all bets not included in the first two tiers. Tier three essentially allows the New Hampshire Lottery to offer its own bets through lottery retailers, but it hasn’t acted on this up to this point.

When HB 480 was signed in 2019, New Hampshire joined the ever-growing list of states that have legalized sports betting. Despite declaring that online and retail sports betting would be legal, NH decided to handle its sports betting market differently than other states.

After the sports betting bill was signed, DraftKings Sportsbook approached the New Hampshire Lottery with a unique proposal to monopolize the state’s sports betting market. This was just one of 13 proposals that the NH Lottery would receive, but in the words of the Godfather, DraftKings gave them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

No, they didn’t threaten the state. Instead, they offered 51% of all their revenue if the state promised to keep other operators out of the market. Once the contract was signed, if the state decided to allow more online operators, DraftKings' tax obligation would drop from 51% to 21%. Since they want to maximize their opportunities in sports betting, the state has upheld its end of the agreement and maintained the market exclusively for DraftKings.

All legal NH sports betting apps in 2025:

Sports betting & gambling legislation in NH

For residents in New Hampshire to place a legal sports wager online or in person, they must be at least 18 years old. With that, it is also illegal in the state to wager on events where most players are below the legal gambling age. However, in January 2025, the state's House of Representatives proposed a bill that would raise the legal gambling age from 18 to 21. Whether that bill is passed is yet to be determined. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission enforces all rules and regulations for sports betting in NH.

One of the nicest aspects of sports betting in New Hampshire is the tax rate, or lack thereof. Bettors are not subject to an income tax, which doesn’t just apply to sports betting winnings in the Granite State. Of course, federal tax still applies to bettors, and that tax rate is 24%.

With the provisions established in 2021 by HB 330 and HB 354, the state appears satisfied with its system. Consequently, New Hampshire residents shouldn’t anticipate any changes to the market in the future. This also applies to markets like iGaming and online poker, which remain illegal in NH.

How New Hampshire’s no state income tax affects sports betting revenue

New Hampshire’s lack of a state income tax creates a unique sports betting landscape, which affects both bettor behavior and how revenue is allocated. With no income tax on gambling winnings, bettors in New Hampshire get to keep more of their profits compared to states that impose taxes on sports betting earnings. This tax-friendly environment may encourage a higher volume of bet size and more consistent play, as players don’t have to factor in tax losses when calculating potential payouts.

From an industry perspective, DraftKings can leverage this advantage to attract new bettors or gambling “whales” by promoting tax-free winnings as a benefit. However, without income tax revenue from gambling, the state relies heavily on the sportsbook’s revenue-sharing agreement to finance education and other public programs. It is also important to consider that if the state introduces more operators, it could lose revenue from DraftKings since their tax obligations would diminish 30%.

Primary prediction pools: Novelty betting on presidential campaign stops

In New Hampshire, the state that proudly holds the nation’s first presidential primary, politics is practically a sport. Every election cycle, candidates travel across its towns, make personal connections, hold town halls, and hope to win the hearts (and votes) of the Granite State locals. But why let the politicians have all the fun?

Primary Prediction Pools, where political enthusiasts and casual observers alike can place wagers on questions like, “Which town will Candidate X visit next?” or “Who will draw the biggest crowd this week?” With a rich history of grassroots campaigning and easily trackable events, New Hampshire is uniquely more suited for campaign-based novelty betting compared to other states. 

With geofenced apps and appropriate regulation, these bets could be confined to entertaining, low-stakes predictions that do not influence political outcomes. The non-influencing outcomes are the key to this market and would likely be the deciding factor in a market like this being added. By leveraging its early-primary status, New Hampshire could lead the way in a new form of interactive political engagement.

Betting on fall foliage in New Hampshire: Nature meets novelty wagers

New Hampshire’s famous fall foliage attracts thousands of visitors each year, but could it also become a betting market? With the leaf-peeping season heavily dependent on weather conditions, temperature, and rainfall amounts, predicting the exact peak of when leaves turn red, orange, and yellow could provide a fun and competitive wagering experience. Enthusiasts could place bets on which town will reach peak color first, the longest-lasting foliage, or even the earliest snowfall to interrupt the season’s beauty.

Local tourism boards might even get involved by offering prizes for the most accurate predictions, which could, in turn, drive more tourism. With technology enabling real-time satellite tracking of foliage changes, sportsbooks could develop an interactive betting system for both nature lovers and gamblers. While it may never compete with sports betting, a leaf-peeping market could introduce a new group of people to betting.

Most recent updates from the NH betting & gambling scenes

• April 4, 2025: Two gambling bills in New Hampshire are advancing, giving local voters more say. HB 737 lets towns ban games of chance, while HB 247 allows them to approve historic horse racing machines. Both passed the House and are now being reviewed in the Senate.

• March 28, 2025: New Hampshire may legalize video slot machines to boost tax revenue, with supporters estimating up to $65 million in annual proceeds. Unlike historical horse racing machines already allowed, video slots could provide faster play and greater profits, helping fund state programs.

• January 28, 2025: New Hampshire’s SB 168, led by Sen. Tim Lang and three other Republicans, seeks to legalize online casinos, including slots and table games. If passed, regulated online gambling could launch by January 1, 2026.

• January 8, 2025: A new bill in New Hampshire, titled HB83, is proposing legislation that will raise the minimum age for sports betting from 18 to 21.

• December 4, 2024: A new casino project has been approved in New Hampshire. The $160 million and three-story venue will open at The Mall at Rockingham Park, which is set to open in a year.

• November 20, 2024: University of New Hampshire has opened the year 0-3 in basketball. They are now (+8000) to win the America East regular season title.

• November 18, 2024: Legendz Social Sportsbook & Casino launches in 43 US states, including NH, with high RTP and props for players 18+. Free play, daily bonuses, and the chance to redeem real prizes make it a standout option.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

The maximum amount of retail sportsbooks in the state is ten, and as we head into 2025, three are currently in operation. All of the locations are partnered with DraftKings and feature sports betting kiosks.

Expanding the retail market is undoubtedly in the cards for New Hampshire, as 16 communities have already voted to approve opening a DraftKings Sportsbook location in their respective area.

Do hiking and outdoor enthusiasts bet differently than city-based bettors?

New Hampshire’s outdoor lifestyle is deeply ingrained in its culture, but does it influence sports betting behavior? Unlike city dwellers who are constantly connected, many NH residents and visitors spend their weekends hiking, skiing, or camping, which takes them off the grid. This raises an interesting question: Do outdoor enthusiasts bet less, or do they place their wagers before disappearing into the wilderness?

Data suggests that while rural and outdoor-loving bettors may not place bets as frequently as their urban counterparts, they often engage in pre-game wagering. Knowing they’ll be without cell service, these bettors tend to place their bets in advance, focusing on straight bets, parlays, or futures that don’t require real-time adjustments. Live betting or micro betting, which both thrive in urban settings, is naturally less popular among this group.

Another factor is seasonality. During peak outdoor seasons betting activity may dip as people prioritize different recreation activities over watching games. However, NH’s strong connection to Boston sports teams ensures that even the most dedicated hikers are likely to formulate some bets for a big game.

Ultimately, while NH’s outdoor culture fosters a different betting style, it doesn’t mean the state loses betting handle during peak outdoor months. Instead, those bettors just have an alternate handicapping approach that contrasts with those bettors who like to watch the game for a bit before jumping in on the action with a live wager.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Since sports betting legislation was enacted in Vermont in January 2024, all three of New Hampshire’s neighboring states now offer some form of sports betting.

If residents of New Hampshire are looking to cross state lines but remain active in sports betting, they can click the states’ names below to see the full scope of their legislation and active sports betting apps.

Sports betting revenue impact on New Hampshire's economy

Under the current sports betting bill in New Hampshire, there can be no more than ten retail and five mobile sportsbooks operating in the state at any given time. This regulation doesn't significantly impact online sportsbooks, as DraftKings already holds a monopoly in the state. Regarding retail locations, the licensing fee in the state remains unclear. However, all establishments seeking to become retail facilities must obtain voter approval from their specific city.

The tax rate in NH is 51%, which only applies to DraftKings since they opted into that deal when securing their monopoly on the state. Even with that monopoly controlling the sports betting scene, New Hampshire still does well regarding monthly revenue reports, especially in the tax revenue category, for obvious reasons.

By no stretch of the imagination is New Hampshire the most significant state in the U.S.; in fact, they are 41st in overall population. Despite that, N.H. is not unfamiliar with months when they pulled in $80-$100 million in betting handle. However, as of 2024, the average monthly betting handle in the state was around $66 million. This level of monthly activity resulted in over $79 million in sportsbook revenue and around $35 million in tax income for the state for the whole year.

New Hampshire sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: March 2023 ($103,390,747)

• Revenue: January 2023 ($12,317,536)

• Tax income: January 2023 ($5,604,577)

Latest NH sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

Reported by the New Hampshire Lottery.

• Total betting handle: $63,260,876

  • Mobile betting handle: $58,872,159

  • Retail betting handle: $4,388,717

• Hold: 12.65%

• Gross revenue: $8,000,193

  • Revenue from mobile betting: $7,592,691

  • Revenue from retail betting: $407,502

• Tax revenue for the state: $3,487,740

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

NH sports betting revenue in 2025

The table below presents the total handle, revenue, and tax income generated by the legal sports betting market in New Hampshire. The percentage figure shows how such numbers have evolved compared to the previous month.

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

Event-based betting in New Hampshire: Why Laconia Motorcycle Week is a perfect fit

Laconia Motorcycle Week is one of New Hampshire's most iconic annual events, drawing tens of thousands of riders and spectators to the Lakes Region every June. But beyond the roar of engines and chrome-laced parades lies a potential goldmine for betting and the revenue that stems from that. With organized competitions that include burnout contests, slow races, and bike showdowns already part of the festivities, licensed sportsbooks could offer novelty wagers on everything from “race winners” to “best-looking bike.”

If New Hampshire expands its regulatory framework to include event-based prop bets, Laconia, which is already a big tourism location, could help fuel summer revenue for the state. Even capturing a fraction of tourism-based wagers could generate tens of thousands in seasonal betting handle and tax income for the state, which is huge since the state does not have a pro sports team.