This bill introduces a local option for municipalities to vote on the prohibition of games of chance, including Keno, by amending RSA 287-D with the addition of a new section (287-D:32). This allows towns and cities to hold votes to either permit or prohibit these games within their boundaries. If a municipality decides to prohibit games of chance, the lottery commission will not issue licenses for their operation. The bill also outlines the voting procedures, including public hearings and ballot question wording, while allowing municipalities that prohibit games of chance to still host a limited number of charitable gaming events annually. Additionally, it modifies existing laws to automatically permit Keno unless a municipality votes against it, and it repeals and reenacts RSA 284:51 to align Keno voting procedures with those for games of chance.

Moreover, the bill proposes changes to the licensing requirements and fees for game operators. It establishes that secondary game operator licenses will now last for three years instead of expiring on the licensee's birthday, and requires immediate notification to the commission if a licensee is arrested or convicted of a crime. The annual filing requirements for licensees are also modified, eliminating the need for annual disclosure statements. The fee structure is revised, with significant increases for various licenses, such as the facility license fee rising from $250 to $750 for three years, and the primary game operator license fee increasing from $100 to $300 for the same period. The effective dates for the different sections of the act are set for June 1, 2027, and July 1, 2025, for the remainder of the act.

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