Gambling in New Hampshire is not a straightforward affair: while many gambling forms are illegal or unavailable, there’s a lot that citizens and visitors can actually dabble in. When it comes to USA online casinos in New Hampshire, this is also illegal, but there are a number of sites that allow you to play casino games for free and even win actual prizes.
Our Online Casino New Hampshire Reviews
The State of New Hampshire, which is also known as the Granite State, may have a national forest and 65 state parks, but those numbers do not extend to its commercial casinos – of which there are none. NH, however, has taken a very strange stance when it comes to gambling:
- Commercial casinos are not allowed, but there are two dozen charitable casinos and sports bars that offer players a wide variety of casino games;
- Online gambling is illegal, but the state has a number of sweepstake sites that allow New Hampshirites to play games of skill and chance for free and still be in the chance to get actual winnings.
These strange contradictions are explored in further detail below.
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The Legality Of Land-Based Casinos & Online Casinos In New Hampshire
Gambling in New Hampshire is a complete mishmash, so it’s important to know what is legal in the Granite State and what is not. Let’s start off with what isn’t legal or available: the Granite State does not have any commercial casinos, and slot machines are not legal.
Playing games of skill or chance for real money at online casinos, including video poker, online video slots, online baccarat, online blackjack, and online roulette, as well as live casino versions, is also illegal. The state also has no tribal-run casinos, but this is simply because there are no federally recognized tribes within the confines of the Granite State. But there are a lot of people who have a gambling itch to scratch in the Granite State can actually do. For a start, the state has 27 sports bars and charitable casinos where residents and visitors aged 21 and over can play a myriad of casino games, including poker and table games.
Meanwhile, those who are 18 or over can try their hand at sports betting, betting on horse and dog racing (including pari-mutuel), bingo, the many lotteries available and even head to poker rooms. Below, we take a closer look at each of these offerings in more detail. Before we get to that, however, it is also important to mention that this American state doesn’t have many measures in place to deal with problem gambling.
At the time of writing, the only association offering any form of help is the New Hampshire Council on Problem Gambling (NHCPG), which is a stand-alone not-for-profit organization that isn’t in any way affiliated with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Of course, this organization still offers invaluable help and, should you wish to seek their advice, you can get in touch directly by calling them on 603-724-1605.
Charitable Casinos & Sports Bars
NH is home to a considerable number of locations where New Hampshirites can play many of their favorite casino games and games of chance, including poker, online craps, blackjack, bingo, keno, and roulette, among others. There are also numerous sports bars in the state. Slot machines in NH are illegal, however, so you will not find any of these at any of these locations. Nevertheless, the state allows casino cruise ships to enter the state for 48-hour-periods at a time, and these usually have a very wide-ranging offering of casino games. To enter casinos in New Hampshire, players need to be at least 21 years old. Those who are 18, however, can play bingo and even access dedicated poker rooms.
Sports Betting & Daily Fantasy Sport
One of the latest additions to the list of gambling practices New Hampshirites can take part in is sports betting, which became legal in July 2019 following a Bill that was passed earlier that year. To play, citizens and visitors need to download the DraftKings Sports app, through which you’ll get access to all professional and college sports (bar in-state collegiate games). The legal age to take part in this practice is 18.
Horse & Dog Racing
Betting on horse and dog races, including through pari-mutuel wagering, where bets are placed in a pool, is completely acceptable and legal in the Granite State. Even so, the state only has one operational racetrack – the Rockingham Park Horse Racing Track in Salem. Thankfully, betting on horse and dog races over the internet is completely legal, and all major online horse racing betting sites accept players from this state.
Lotteries
The Granite State has had a state lottery, called New Hampshire Lottery, since 1964, but the industry in this case has exploded. Today, New Hampshirites can take part in Megabucks, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, Keno 603, Gimme 5, Scratch-offs, Powerball, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Fast Play. It must be said that from all of these, Keno 603 is quickly becoming one of the most popular, with many locations in this Northern state approving it. Taking part in lotteries can be done via mobile purchasing. To enter any of these lotteries, you need to be at least 18 years of age.
Land-Based Gambling In New Hampshire Today
Here are five of the top charitable bingo facilities in the Granite State.
Casino | County | Other Information |
Chasers Poker Room | Salem | Here you can player Roulette, Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud and other cash games. The legal age to enter is 21 . |
The Brook | Seabrook | Previously known as The Greyhound Casino & Tavern, this casino offers Poker Rooms and a Racebook, as well as a wide variety of table games, including Roulette, Blackjack, High Card Flush and Cajun Stud. This casino is the only place in the whole state where you can play table games jackpots – with jackpot new progressives on Cajun Stud and Blackjack Bonus available. |
Hampton Beach Casino | Hampton | Open since 1899, the Hampton Beach Casino has loads of fun activities for the whole family. It’s actual gambling spot – known as the Aces and Eights Casino Game Room – offers those aged 21 and over the chance to play Roulette, Blackjack and other casino games for charity. |
Keene Casino | Keene | While this casino offers a variety of games to players aged 21 and over, what makes it special is its calendar of events and promotions. Every Monday between 5pm and 10pm, for example, the bonus grows by $50 every hour until it’s hit. To find out what they have next, check out the calendar on their website. |
The River Casino & Sports Bar | Nashua | This casino has the majority of your favorite games of chance and skill, including Roulette, New Hampshire Hold’Em, Let It Ride, the Big 6 Money Wheel, and the New Hampshire 21 (which is just like Spanish 21 but with some different, yet fun, bets). There is also the table stakes no-limit cash Texas Hold’em Poker. |
Online Gambling Laws In New Hampshire
Gambling online in New Hampshire is illegal, and that includes any games which you would typically find in a commercial casino, such as poker, slots, roulette, baccarat, blackjack and so on. Nevertheless, it’s not all doom and gloom for New Hampshirites looking to play games of chance or skill online. Sweepstakes sites or social casinos, which use a business model similar to those used by McDonald’s Monopoly, are allowed in the state. These offer anything from poker to slots, and blackjack to roulette, which can be played for free while still giving you the chance to win actual prizes. There are four such sites New Hampshirites can choose from, namely Chumba Casino, Global Poker, Luckyland Slots, and FendOff Sports. These operate under strict laws which require the sites to offer prizes to players without them having to make any purchases first. If you would like to play at any of these sites, then our advice is to read their Terms & Conditions to check how best to join. LuckyLand Slots, for example, requires users to send a request by normal post to gain free entry, as well as an award in the shape of currencies that can be redeemable for cash. Also good to know: should you win any prizes while playing on these sites, the law states that the website in question has to deliver your winnings within 10 days of your win being announced. Finally, New Hampshirites ages 18 and over can now also play Daily Fantasy Sport online through the DraftKings app, as well as bet on horse and dog races and make lottery purchases online.
What should I know about Online Casinos in New Hampshire?
- Gambling in New Hampshire, be it at brick-and-mortar, online or offshore casinos, is illegal.
- The state, however, does permit sweepstakes sites to operate. These, by law, have to let citizens of NH play and even win actual prizes without the need to make any purchases.
- Games available at sweepstakes sites include poker, slots, keno, baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, among others.
- Sports betting in New Hampshire is now also legal. This can be played by downloading the DraftKings app straight to your mobile device.
Gambling Laws Governing Offshore Casinos & What It Means For New Hampshire Players
Offshore casinos are online casinos that are registered in a different jurisdiction to the one you are in. These can be from within the USA itself, or even in other countries where online gambling is legal and the laws (particularly tax laws) are more favorable. When searching for information on how to gamble in New Hampshire online, you may come across many sites that state that it is perfectly legal to play at offshore casinos, even if the state you are in doesn’t really allow residents and citizens to play games of chance or skill online. This is not the case: if gambling online is illegal in your state, then offshore casinos also fall within the same category. Moreover, playing at offshore-registered casinos can come with many other complications. For a start, it may be particularly difficult to deposit and withdraw any money. Secondly, the laws of other jurisdictions may not be what you are used to, leading you, your money, your data, and your rights to not be safe. On top of ending up in trouble with the law, the state you are in may also not have much power to help you out if anything goes wrong. So, for this reason, we do not recommend that you play at offshore casinos while in this state or in any other state.
Online Casino Games For New Hampshire
Gambling in New Hampshire is quite a hodgepodge of rules and regulations. As we discussed before, commercial casinos in the Granite State are not legal, nor is gambling online. Yet citizens and visitors can still play the majority of chance and skill games they would normally find in a casino online. Those looking to play poker, slots, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and many other casino games online will be happy to know that there are sweepstakes websites that allow you to do this without the need to make any purchases – and you can still real prizes! Moreover, since July 2019, New Hampshirites can play Daily Fantasy Sports and dabble in sports betting online through the DraftsKing app, which has to be downloaded straight to your mobile device. Betting on dog and horse races, as well as making lottery-related purchases online is also legal.
Payment Options At New Hampshire Online Casinos
Because online casinos are not allowed in the Granite State, there is no real data on the preferred methods of payment and currencies at New Hampshire online casinos. Nevertheless, if you are playing at one of the sweepstakes casino websites mentioned above, then you will be playing using a virtual currency by the name of ‘Gold Coin’. It’s important to remember that, by New Hampshire law, sweepstakes casinos cannot ask players to spend money in order to play and win actual prizes.
Online Casinos in New Hampshire FAQs
Is online gambling legal in New Hampshire?
The simplest answer to this question is no, but online casino gambling in New Hampshire isn’t that black and white. Playing at an online casino for real money in New Hampshire, even at offshore casinos, is indeed illegal but there are sweepstakes sites that give you the opportunity to play poker, slots, table games, and other games of chance and skill online for free. The law in this matter states that you don’t need to make any purchases in order to play, but you can still win actual prizes. To join one of these sweepstake sites – Chumba Casino, Global Poker, Luckyland Slots, or FendOff Sports – please read their Terms & Conditions as some ask you to send a request via snail mail. In these instances, you can only play if your request is accepted.
Can I play at an online casino in New Hampshire via mobile or tablet?
Gambling in New Hampshire – be it at land-based, online or offshore casinos – is not legal, so the answer to this question has to be no. Nevertheless, the sweepstakes websites, where you can play perfectly legally for free and even win actual prizes, do offer some form of mobile or tablet options. Chumba Casino’s website, for example, works well on smartphones as it resizes automatically (there is no dedicated mobile casino app, however). LuckyLand Slots, meanwhile, has a dedicated app for Android phones, while iPhone casinos users can access the site via Safari. Sports betting is only available through mobile, and users have to download the DraftKing app to be able to do so.
What casino games can I play at New Hampshire online casinos?
New Hampshire online casinos are not legal, and therefore there are no casino games available to New Hampshirites looking to play for real money. Nevertheless, sweepstakes sites like Luckyland Slots and Chumba Casino allow players from the Granite State to play games of skill and chance in a perfectly legal manner. As a player, you are not required to make any purchases to be able to play, but you may be asked to register via a request sent by normal post. Games at these sites include slots, blackjack, video poker and roulette.
Is it possible to play online casino games with dollars?
No, playing for real money at online casinos in New Hampshire is illegal, as is gambling at offshore-registered casino sites. The aforementioned sweepstakes sites, however, give you the option to purchase Gold Coins which can then be used to play. Even so, the law in the Granite State makes it clear that you do not need to make any purchases in order to play and actually win.
Are the New Hampshire online casinos on this site regulated?
All online casinos mentioned on this website are legal, regulated and licensed. Many of them also have extra measures in place to safeguard you, your money, your data and your rights. As always, we urge you to read the Terms & Conditions of your casino website of choice before you sign up in order to make sure that you are happy with what is being offered, as well as to always follow the law of the jurisdiction you live in or are visiting.
Am I eligible to receive an online casino bonus at an New Hampshire casino?
No, as gambling in New Hampshire is not legal, there are no bonuses to benefit from. Nevertheless, the sweepstakes sites we mentioned before do have a number of welcome bonuses. Chumba Casino, for example, gives new players 2,000,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins for free. Luckylands Slots, meanwhile, gives you free sweeps cash without even having to make a deposit, but requires you to register via traditional mail first.
How do I start playing for real money at an New Hampshire online casino?
There is no way to play for real money at online casinos in New Hampshire. Indeed, gambling in New Hampshire is illegal. The only options for casino games are the sweepstake sites, the brick-and-mortar charitable casinos, or the casino cruises that sometime make their way into NH for a period of 48 hours.
Which online casino payment options are popular in New Hampshire?
Due to online casinos being illegal in New Hampshire, we have no data on the preferred payment options and currencies in the state. If you are out of the state and looking to play for real money at an online casino, then we recommend you read the Terms & Conditions of the site of your choice to make sure that they fit your needs and wishes.
Do I need to pay taxes on my gambling winnings in New Hampshire?
Yes, ever since 2009, all gambling winnings in New Hampshire are subject to a 10 percent tax. These winnings, as defined by RSA 77:38, III, can be any “winnings from lotteries and games of chance including, but not limited to bingo, slot machines, keno, poker tournaments, and any other gambling winnings subject to federal income tax withholding” (New Hampshire government website). To New Hampshirites, this applies to any gambling winnings from inside or outside the state, while for the visitors, the tax is only for “winnings from New Hampshire entities” (Hampshire government website).
Stay Safe when Gambling in New Hampshire!
In conclusion, while playing for real money at New Hampshire online casino is illegal, citizens and visitors still have many options to choose from. As always, we urge you all to remain well within the law of the jurisdiction you are in when gambling, and to never exceed monetary amounts you can’t afford to lose.