This bill provides municipalities with the option to vote on whether to prohibit games of chance, including keno, within their jurisdictions. Keno will be allowed by default unless a municipality votes to ban it, following a structured voting process that includes public hearings and specific ballot wording. If a majority of voters choose to prohibit these games, they cannot be operated in that municipality. The bill also allows municipalities to later reverse their prohibition and permits unincorporated areas to disallow games of chance through a majority vote of the county delegation. The bill modifies existing legal language by deleting references to towns or cities that have allowed gaming and replacing them with provisions for those that have chosen to prohibit it.

In addition to the voting provisions, the bill increases licensing fees for various gaming-related licenses under RSA 287-D, raising the annual facility license fee from $250 to $750 for a three-year period, and adjusting other fees accordingly. It also establishes new reporting requirements for licensees, including the obligation to notify the lottery commission of any changes to their information by the end of their birthday month and to report any arrests or convictions immediately. The bill includes staggered effective dates, with certain sections taking effect on June 1, 2027, and the remainder on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Amended by the Senate: 284:42, 284:45, 287-D:7, 287-D:8, 287-D:9, 287-D:10, 287-D:13
Version adopted by both bodies: 284:42, 284:45, 287-D:7, 287-D:8, 287-D:9, 287-D:10, 287-D:13
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 284:42, 284:45, 287-D:7, 287-D:8, 287-D:9, 287-D:13