New Hampshire Awards First Sports Betting Contract To DraftKings

New Hampshire residents will be able to bet on sports early in 2020 after the New Hampshire Lottery Commission approved its first sports betting contract on Monday.

In a 3-1 vote, the Executive Council voted to approve a six-year contract with DraftKings to operate both online and retail sportsbooks in the Granite State, according to an AP report. With the agreement, it is expected that the daily fantasy sports giant will have its online sportsbooks up and running in the state in January, with retail locations opening in the spring.

When the books launch in 2020, New Hampshire will join Rhode Island as the only two states in New England that offer sports betting. Both will have both online and retail sports betting options available to residents.

Rhode Island sportsbooks have been open for business for just over one year. The tax revenue that was expected has been underwhelming, falling short of projections, but has increased since implementing online betting last March.

DraftKings will be taxed at 51 percent of gross gaming revenue on mobile apps and 50 percent of revenue from its brick-and-mortar locations.

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu appeared on WEEI, Boston’s largest sports radio station last month to tell New England’s largest city that his state will have sports betting before the Super Bowl. He reiterated those sentiments on Twitter following the contract announcement.

“We moved fast to get this done, and the deal is a win for NH,” Sununu tweeted. “We are partnering with a world-class company to provide a first-rate customer service experience. With today’s vote, everyone will now be able to bet on @TomBrady and the @Patriots in time for this year’s Super Bowl.”

In New Hampshire, gamblers over the age of 18 will be allowed to wager on sporting events. The legislation passed by Sununu in June will allow for up to 10 retail sportsbooks throughout the state.

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