New Hampshire Just Became The Fifth State To Authorize Online Lottery Sales

Advocates of legal and regulated online gaming are celebrating as New Hampshire joins the ranks of states offering online lottery games, making it the fifth state to do so.

The online lottery amendment was incorporated into a comprehensive budget package consisting of over 100 pages by the New Hampshire legislature. The bill was successfully passed by both chambers on June 22, and subsequently signed by Governor Chris Sununu a week later.

Online lottery and gaming slowly creeping across the country

It is entirely possible for another state to beat them to market, but if not, New Hampshire will become the eighth state to offer some form of legal online gaming.

• Online lottery products are sold by the states of Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, and Kentucky.
• Online poker and online sports betting are both available in Nevada.
• Legal online casino and online poker games are available in Delaware and New Jersey.

It is expected that the number will continue to increase in the near future, as a minimum of 10 states introduced legislation for online gaming and/or online lottery in 2017.

Significant progress is being made by several initiatives, with Pennsylvania being particularly noteworthy as it stands on the verge of legalizing online lottery and online casino games.

In addition to this, there are several other states that are considering legalizing online lotteries in 2017.

• Connecticut
• Hawaii
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey

Furthermore, there are other states contemplating the legalization of online poker and/or casinos in 2017.

• California (poker-only)
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• New York (poker only)
• West Virginia

What’s in the online lottery bill?

The specific part of the bill concerning online lottery sales states:

(e) The lottery commission may sell tickets through mobile applications or over the Internet. In relation to these sales, the lottery commission will ensure the following:

(1) In order to prohibit individuals under the age of 18 from accessing or purchasing lottery tickets, age verification protocols will be implemented. These protocols will include the mandatory registration of players at licensed lottery retailers under the guidelines stated in this chapter.

Lottery purchases must only occur within the geographical borders of the state of New Hampshire.

To adhere to the best practices in tackling problem gambling, it is important to establish wager limits for both daily, weekly, and monthly amounts for each player and account.

(4) A program that allows players to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling activities for specific durations of time.

The sole unconventional element of the bill pertains to the necessity for initial players to personally register at a physical lottery retailer.

When can Granite State residents expect online lottery to go live?

Although the online lottery amendment is set to take effect on July 1, 2017, it is expected that New Hampshire will take some time before introducing online lottery products.

Depending on the timelines observed in other states, the waiting period may range from a few months to several years.

In 2012, Georgia managed to swiftly bring its online lottery to market, launching it just four months after receiving official approval. On the other hand, Kentucky took over three years to transition from approval to actual launch.

There are several things that will require attention:

• The selection of an online lottery vendor will be required by New Hampshire.
• Regulations must be established by the state.
• Launch a website.
• Ensuring the integrity and security of the game through comprehensive testing.

As mentioned earlier, the legislation assigns the responsibility to the New Hampshire Lottery Commission for:

• Implementing player verification and geolocation protocols.
• Establishing wagering limits on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
• Enacting a self-exclusion program

Impact on Massachusetts gambling

Massachusetts, located to the south of New Hampshire, is also being considered for the expansion of online lottery services.

Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who oversees the Massachusetts Lottery, is among the many influential proponents of online lottery in the state.

Massachusetts remained a promising contender for online expansion this year. However, the state adhered to its usual cautious approach, causing the legislature to delay the implementation of online lottery and gaming expansion until 2018.

However, if New Hampshire beats Massachusetts to the punch, it could potentially ignite the expansion of online lottery in Massachusetts.