New Hampshire gambling laws explained

New Hampshire gambling laws at a glance

The short version is that New Hampshire channels almost all legal gambling through one state agency. The New Hampshire Lottery (opens in a new tab) sells draw games and instant tickets in stores and online, and the same commission runs sports wagering. Charitable casino gaming exists on the ground. Real-money online casino games have no legal path.

For how these pieces fit with the offshore sites New Hampshire players see, start with the New Hampshire online casinos hub. The rest of this page takes each form in turn.

Who regulates gambling in New Hampshire?

At the center sits the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. It operates the lottery and iLottery and administers sports wagering through its contract with DraftKings. That is an unusual setup: in many states, a separate gaming commission licenses sportsbooks while a lottery only sells tickets.

No state agency licenses online casinos, because state law doesn't authorize them. That matters when something goes wrong. A dispute with the Lottery or with DraftKings has a state body behind it; a dispute with an offshore casino site does not. Our overview of state gambling regulators compares how other states divide the job.

Sports betting law in New Hampshire: RSA 287-I

Sports wagering sits in RSA Chapter 287-I (opens in a new tab). Two provisions shape the market. RSA 287-I:1, II sets the minimum age at 18, and RSA 287-I:7 allows the state to work with up to five mobile agents. In practice, the Lottery's own pages name DraftKings as the online and retail operator.

That 18 age is lower than the 21 that applies to sports betting in many other states, and it's one reason New Hampshire's rules stand out in New England. Mobile betting is legal statewide, so a bettor in Manchester or anywhere else in the state uses the same licensed app. Our New Hampshire sports betting page covers the market itself, and the federal background is in our sports betting laws explainer.

Lottery and online lottery rules in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is one of the states where you can legally buy lottery products online. The Lottery's Play Responsibly page (opens in a new tab) confirms iLottery sales of e-Instants and draw tickets, plus a mobile app, with a minimum age of 18.

e-Instants look and feel like simple online games, which is where people sometimes confuse them with casino slots. The legal difference is the operator: e-Instants are a state lottery product run by the Commission, while a casino slot on an offshore site is not authorized by New Hampshire law. See state lotteries online for how other states handle iLottery.

Are online casinos legal under New Hampshire gambling laws?

No. Third-party industry data from the American Gaming Association lists online casinos as not legal in New Hampshire, and nothing in the state's verified statutes authorizes them. The state is not among the seven that license real-money online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. See states with legal online casinos for that list in detail.

We found no published New Hampshire statement aimed specifically at offshore online casinos. The Lottery's site does point readers to the FTC's warning about illegal foreign lotteries. Offshore casino sites still reach New Hampshire players, and they hold licenses (if any) from places like Anjouan or Curaçao rather than from any US state. Our explainer on whether offshore casinos are legal sets out what that means.

We don't tell readers that playing at an offshore casino is legal for them, or that they'll be prosecuted. State law decides the question for players, and New Hampshire's statutes and regulator haven't spoken to offshore casinos directly in the sources we hold.

Charitable casinos and land-based gambling in New Hampshire

There are no commercial casinos in New Hampshire on the AGA's count, but charitable casino gaming does operate in the state. Our sources don't give a venue count, the gaming limits or the minimum age, so check with the venue and current state rules before you go.

No tribal casinos are recorded in our sources either. That sets New Hampshire apart from neighbors such as Connecticut, where state-licensed online casinos operate. For how federal law treats tribal gaming generally, see our guide to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Sweepstakes casinos and daily fantasy in New Hampshire

Sweepstakes casinos use two currencies: Gold Coins for play and Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for prizes. A third-party tracker reports no New Hampshire ban. Nearby states have moved the other way: Connecticut's ban took effect October 1, 2025, and Maine's LD 2007 took effect in July 2026 (sources give July 14 or July 29).

The legal status of daily fantasy sports in New Hampshire isn't confirmed in our verified sources, so we don't state one. Our sweepstakes casinos in New Hampshire page tracks the dual-currency sites, and sweepstakes casino bans lists every state ban we've recorded.

Gambling ages in New Hampshire

Offers on this site are for adults 21+ (18+ only where a law clearly allows it). The gambling age by state table compares New Hampshire with the rest of the country.

Federal laws and penalties that apply in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's criminal code sets its own gambling offenses, and we haven't verified those penalty provisions, so we won't quote them. Federal law adds a layer that applies in every state, and its penalties fall mainly on operators rather than individual players.

UIGEA defines unlawful internet gambling by reference to the law where the bet is placed, as 31 U.S.C. § 5362 (opens in a new tab) shows, which is why state law matters so much. Read more on UIGEA and the Illegal Gambling Business Act.

New Hampshire Lottery Commission v. Rosen and the Wire Act

New Hampshire shaped federal gambling law directly. In 2018, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel said most of the Wire Act reached non-sports betting, which put online lottery sales in doubt. The Lottery Commission sued, and on January 20, 2021 the First Circuit held in New Hampshire Lottery Commission v. Rosen (opens in a new tab) that the Act applies only to bets on sporting events or contests and doesn't cover state lottery sales.

There's a limit to that win. A June 18, 2021 letter from state attorneys general said the ruling binds the Justice Department only as to the parties in the case, and asked it to adopt the court's reading nationwide. Our Wire Act page explains where things stand.

Recent bills and changes affecting New Hampshire players

We found no New Hampshire bill on online casinos or sweepstakes in our verified sources for 2025 or 2026. The changes that matter come from Washington and from New England neighbors.

Follow developments next door on our Maine page, and on prediction markets, where federal bills would bar casino-style contracts on CFTC exchanges.

Taxes and problem gambling help in New Hampshire

Gambling winnings are taxable federal income, from a lottery prize to a sportsbook payout to an offshore casino win. For payments made in 2026, the W-2G threshold for slots is $2,000. From the 2026 tax year, losses are reported to be deductible only up to 90% and only against winnings; check IRS guidance. Our gambling taxes guide covers both.

The state Lottery points players to the National Problem Gambling Helpline: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat through the National Council on Problem Gambling (opens in a new tab). It's free, confidential and open 24/7. Our helpline guide explains what to expect.

1. Check whether the activity is one New Hampshire licenses: lottery, iLottery or DraftKings sports betting.
2. Confirm the age rule: 18 for lottery and sports betting, and the operator's own age for anything else.
3. If a site isn't licensed by the state, read its terms for its license, owner and complaint route.
4. Keep records of wins and losses for federal tax purposes.
5. Set a budget before you play, and use the helpline if gambling stops being fun.

Offshore casinos and New Hampshire gambling laws: offers via our links

Because New Hampshire licenses no online casinos, the casino sites players see are offshore. The partners below are not licensed by New Hampshire or any other US state, so read the state law above first, and know that a dispute goes to the casino and its overseas licensing body, not a state regulator. We earn a commission through these links and rank partners commercially. 21+ (18+ where allowed), terms apply.

• Decode Casino: $5,000 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Decode's own site shows no license or terms; third-party reviews report Curaçao, report 25x to 35x deposit plus bonus wagering on its sign-up codes and a $25 minimum deposit, so check the terms at sign-up.
• Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's terms name Primrose Media Limited, licensed in Anjouan; its own site advertises a different package (100% on each of ten deposits), with 30x wagering on the offer page but 40x for slots in the general terms, deposits from $30 and no max withdrawal stated. The Michigan Gaming Control Board named Silver Oak in an April 9, 2025 cease-and-desist release.

Bonuses are built for slots, and table games are often excluded or weighted lower. Read the full reviews of Decode and Silver Oak before you sign up, and see our real money casinos in New Hampshire page for banking.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).