The Granite State presents a mixed bag regarding legal internet gambling. On the one hand, it regulates DFS, an iLottery, and online sports betting.

On the other, it doesn’t offer real-money casino or poker sites. No active legislation is in the pipelines for either form of internet gambling.

In 2011, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) offered an opinion on the federal Wire Act of 1961. The Wire Act bans business from using a “wire communication facility” to transmit “bets or wagers” on sporting contests.

The DoJ originally opined that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting. However, it reversed course in 2018 and claimed that the law can apply to any form of internet gambling.

The New Hampshire Lottery Commission took exception to the DoJ’s opinion reversal. It worried that such a statement could affect the state’s lucrative iLottery.

The Lottery Commission sued the DoJ in a New Hampshire US District Court. Judge Paul Barbadoro sided with the NH Lottery Commission and noted that the Wire Act only covers sports gambling.

Therefore, the Granite State earned a victory for all states that feature iGambling markets or plan to do so.

New Hampshire Online Sports Betting

New Hampshire became interested in sports gambling after the Supreme Court ended a ban on the activity in May 2018. It officially legalized land-based and online sports betting on July 12, 2019.

Tasked with regulating the industry, the New Hampshire Lottery Commission began scoring available internet bookmakers. It determined that DraftKings is the only betting operation that meets its standards.

Therefore, DraftKings is the lone retail and online sportsbook in the state. It beat out ROAR Digital and a joint venture between MGM, GVC Holdings, and Kambi.

DraftKings offered a 51% revenue share with New Hampshire in order to be the sole betting provider. By comparison, ROAR and MGM/GVC/Kambi offered a 20% and 12% revenue share, respectively.

DraftKings currently features two retail sportsbooks at The Brook (Seabrook) and Filotimo Casino & Restaurant (Manchester). Of course, it also provides online sports betting to NH residents and visitors.

New Hampshire Online Casinos

The Granite State doesn’t offer online gaming. Besides State Sen. Lou D’Allesandro’s numerous efforts to legalize land-based gaming, New Hampshire has never been interested in casinos.

The state will undoubtedly need brick-and-mortar casinos in the state first. Then, politicians might be open to discussing real-money gaming sites.

For now, sweepstakes sites are the only legal internet-gaming option in New Hampshire. They offer online casino games and sweepstakes entries rather than cash prizes.

Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots are the two most prominent sweepstakes casinos in the state.

New Hampshire Online Poker

Real-money online poker isn’t legal in New Hampshire, either. The state has shown no interest in offering any form of poker beyond its land-based charity establishments.

Much like with casinos, sweepstakes sites provide the only legal online poker option in New Hampshire. For example, Global Poker allows natives and visitors to win sweepstakes prizes.

New Hampshire Online Lottery

As discussed before, the New Hampshire Lottery Commission won a fight with the DoJ over internet gambling. The Lottery Commission didn’t want to risk losing its iLottery.

The NH iLottery allows gamblers to play dozens of online scratch-off games for as little as $0.05. It gives players the chance to win prizes worth up to $100,000. The iLottery website also offers tickets for popular games like Powerball and Mega Millions.

New Hampshire Daily Fantasy Sports

In 2017, the State House and Senate approved a bill (H 580) to legalize daily fantasy sports. Gov. Chris Sununu signed the legislation into effect on July 18, 2017.

Stipulations of H 580 include:

  • Any New Hampshire resident or visitor can play if they’re 18 years of age or older.
  • The NH Lottery Commission presides over the DFS market.
  • Operators don’t need to pay a licensing fee—they just need to register with the state.
  • Employees of DFS sites aren’t allowed to play in the contests.
  • Sites must segregate player deposits from operational funds.

Deposits & Withdrawals at NH Online Gambling Sites

New Hampshire gambling sites provide several ways to fund and withdraw money from your account. DraftKings is especially generous with banking options.

Deposit Options

You can deposit money at NH gambling sites using the following methods:

  • ACH (e-check): You send an e-check (using account and routing numbers) to fund a gambling account.
  • Credit/debit card: Visa and Mastercard offer instant funding to your account.
  • E-wallet: PayPal and Skrill are popular e-wallets that you can deposit with.
  • Prepaid card: Some gambling sites issue branded prepaid cards for depositing purposes.
  • Cash: Visit either The Brook or Filotimo Casino & Restaurant to make an in-person deposit.

Withdrawal Methods

You can withdraw money via the same method that you use to deposit funds. A gambling site will ask for additional identification when you cash out.

Available withdrawal options include:

  • ACH (e-check)
  • E-wallet
  • Prepaid card
  • Cash
  • Paper check

Paper check is the one cashout method that’s not available for deposits. However, checks can take 10-14 days to arrive.

New Hampshire Online Gambling Bonuses

Most of the bonuses in New Hampshire’s iGaming market revolve around DraftKings. However, you’ll find other offers at sweepstakes sites.

Match Deposit Bonus

A match deposit bonus matches your deposit up to a given amount. For example, DraftKings offers a 100% match bonus worth up to $500.

You must satisfy terms and conditions—most notably rollover—before withdrawing the bonus. Here’s an example:

  • You deposit $200 at DraftKings.
  • You now qualify for a $200 bonus.
  • Rollover is 25x the bonus.
  • You must wager 200 x 25 = $5,000.

Other T&Cs apply to any bonus in New Hampshire’s market. Therefore, you should carefully read all terms before pursuing each offer.

Risk-free Bet

A risk-free bet gives you a chance to earn back losses based on your first wager. For instance, DraftKings offers you a risk-free wager that’s worth 20% of your deposit amount.

Here’s an example:

  • You deposit $400.
  • 400 x 0.2 = 80
  • You can now place a risk-free bet worth up to $80.

Bookmakers don’t just hand the losses back to you. Instead, you need to satisfy T&Cs just like with a deposit bonus.

Odds Boost

Online sportsbooks take juice (vig) from the losing side of bets to make their profits. However, they sometimes reduce this juice for some bets.

In turn, you stand to win more money on relevant wagers. Here’s an example of an odds boost:

  • The original odds on a moneyline are +125.
  • You stand to win $125 for every $100 you wager on this outcome.
  • An odds boost makes the moneyline +145.
  • Now, you win $145 for every $100 wagered.

Loyalty Rewards

Some New Hampshire gambling sites offer extra rewards based on your playing volume. For example, DraftKings offers free bets and odds boosts when you wager enough.

Free Coins

Sweepstakes casinos and poker rooms often give out free coins. For instance, Chumba Casino gives you two free Sweepes Coins for signing up.

History of Online Gambling in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Lottery Commission was the first organization to actively pursue internet gambling in the state. The Lottery Commission sought to approve an iLottery.

Legislation made it through the state Houses with little trouble. Gov. Chris Sununu authorized the bill on July 17, 2017, making New Hampshire the fifth state with a legal online lottery.

Just one day later, Sununu signed a daily fantasy sports bill into effect, which made NH the 13th state to offer legal DFS.

One year later, the US DoJ offered an opinion that threatened New Hampshire’s online gambling industry. It suggested that the restrictive Wire Act applies to all forms of internet gambling.

The NH Lottery Commission took this case to court. It won when US District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro noted that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting.

Of course, the Wire Act didn’t discourage New Hampshire from becoming yet another state to pursue online sports gambling. It legalized retail and online sports betting in July 2019.

Rather than opening the market up to various operators, the Lottery Commission only issued a betting license to DraftKings.

FAQ New Hampshire Online Gambling

Do I have to live in New Hampshire to gamble online?

No. You can enjoy NH internet gambling as long as you’re within state lines. Each legal gambling site uses geolocation to ensure that you’re in New Hampshire.

What forms of online gambling are legal in New Hampshire?

The Granite State features legal internet lottery games, DFS, sports betting, sweepstakes casinos, and sweepstakes poker sites. It does not, however, allow real-money online casinos or poker rooms.

Are New Hampshire gambling winnings taxed?

New Hampshire used to collect a 10% tax on gambling wins worth over $600. However, it abolished this rule after lottery sales began dropping.

Now, the Granite State doesn’t charge any tax on gambling winnings. It merely withholds federal taxes (24%) when necessary.

Is New Hampshire online gambling safe?

Yes. The NH Lottery Commission regulates the online lottery, DFS, and sports betting. The Lottery Commission ensures proper protection for gamblers.

What’s the legal online gambling age in New Hampshire?

You only need to be 18 years old to enjoy all forms of NH internet gambling. Many other states require online sports gamblers to be at least 21 to place bets.