Monopoly in the state
For now, DraftKings looks like it will be the only mobile sportsbook that will be operating in New Hampshire.
While there are five mobile sports betting licenses up for grabs in the state, a meeting is being held by the governor and executive council on Monday to discuss the awarding of licenses.
The only item on this meeting’s agenda is DraftKings, which has proposed becoming the state’s exclusive mobile sports betting operator. If this proposal is given the green light, DraftKings would give 51% of its net gaming revenue to the state in the form of taxation.
DraftKings would give 51% of its net gaming revenue to the state
This would also mean that only DraftKings would operate retail sportsbooks in New Hampshire. Intralot look to have the lottery contract all tied up and may also push to offer some sports betting products.
If successful, DraftKings would have a monopoly on the mobile sports betting market in the state until June 2026. There would then be a couple of possible two-year extensions if needed. The lottery contract for Intralot is set to expire in June 2025.
When will the launch take place?
While approval is still required for these contracts before legal sports betting can be rolled out in New Hampshire, this process shouldn’t take too long to complete.
According to an interview between Governor Chris Sununu and a local radio station in October, he believes that he will be able to place a bet on an NFL game in the state before the season closes.
He did not specify if this would be by the end of the regular season, which is the end of December, or when Super Bowl takes place at the start of February.
In a recent statement, DraftKings commented on the situation in New Hampshire. The sports betting company said it is looking forward to
soon providing sports fans in the Granite State with our best-in-class mobile and online sportsbook product.”
DraftKings leading the way
The New Hampshire Lottery will be the regulator for legal sports betting in the state. It published the scoring results of the various applications it got from sports betting companies looking for a license.
Locations for retail sportsbooks
Whichever party receives approval for retail sports betting in New Hampshire will not be able to have complete autonomy over where they launch their retail offerings.
Nine locations have been proposed for retail sportsbooks. In the recent November midterm ballot, the public voted in favor of five of these cities catering to retail sportsbooks. These are Somersworth, Manchester, Laconia, Claremont, and Berlin. There will be a further vote on the matter for the city of Franklin in the spring.
A maximum of ten retail sportsbooks will be allowed in the state.