A new gambling option is coming to New Hampshire thanks to recently passed legislation. Earlier this week, Governor Chris Sununu signed a measure into law to legalize historical horse racing (HHR). This option is considered a good one for states that want to offer new gaming but are unable to offer full casino gambling options.
HHR For New Hampshire
With the HHR option, players access games that are similar to a video lottery machine or other skill type game. These types of devices will accept and pay real money with spinning reels that offer winning combinations for prizes.
The difference in these types of games is the mathematics used to figure the prize payouts. This distinction is what makes the games a legal option. Other states have legalized historical horse racing in the past as a way to quickly bring in new funds. In New Hampshire, it was House Bill 626 that did the trick.
The bill was supported in both the House and Senate, which helped it to move forward. In the beginning, six members of the House and three members of the Senate sponsored the measure. The bill also had bipartisan support as the sponsors are both democrats and republicans.
After being introduced in January, the measure quickly moved to the Senate by April and was on the governor’s desk by May. With the HHR games, players will be able to bet on old horse races. Simulcast wagering will be used to allow players to take part in the gaming option.
It is expected that the new games will bring in a solid return in tax revenues and provide financial support for charities in the state.
What’s To Come?
It is expected that Exacta Systems will be in charge of the new HHR games. The company will be able to install the machines at charitable gaming facilities in New Hampshire. Such venues are considered as casinos locally, but they do not provide the same range of games like commercial casinos are able to offer.
It is interesting to note that usually when HHR machines are added in a state, the games are used to provide additional income for an existing live horse racing industry. In New Hampshire, that is not the case. The state did offer horse racing in the past but has not offered any races since back in 2009.
Because the games are based on previous races, there is a misconception among players that the internet can be used to determine the winner. But that is not the case. Each race offers statistical information about the previous performances of the horses and jockeys in the race, but the names as well as the venue where the race took place, and the date are not provided.
Without this information, it is virtually impossible for a bettor to be able to figure out which race they are playing and who will be the winner. The race can be seen on the reels for a few seconds, but only in small snippets.
