Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to deem inexpedient to legislate a bill that would allow for the expansion of gambling facilities and regulate these new facilities.

Highlights:

-Specifies that the lottery commission has the authority to license and regulate the installation, operation and conduct of video lottery machines at a facility licensee (Chap. 284-A:2). -Requires the lottery commission to issue a report to the fiscal committee no later than November 1 of each year regarding the operation of video lottery machines and any recommendations for future changes (Chap. 284-A:2). -Requires the lottery commission to adopt standards for reviewing, selecting, and granting licenses for no more than 2 north country facility locations and that these standards take into account the following (Chap. 284-A:2):

-The availability of local resources to support services necessary to support the projected guest volume; -The immediate and long range fiscal feasibility of the applicant's proposed project; -The character and fitness of the owners of the facility; -Whether the applicant has obtained approval of the municipality in which the project is proposed by local referendum; -A minimum capital investment of $10 million in the construction or renovation of the facility location; -An agreement with the operator to operate video gaming at the facility in a matter that is consistent with this chapter; -The availability of space for charitable gaming to take place; and -A floor plan suitable for the operation of video lottery that is consistent with this chapter.

-Requires the lottery commission to adopt standards for reviewing, selecting, and granting a resort gaming facility license for one destination golf resort and convention center located in a town along the Massachusetts border in Hillsborough county and that these standards take into account the following (Chap. 284-A:2):

-The availability of local resources to support services necessary to support the projected guest volume; -The immediate and long range fiscal feasibility of the applicant's proposed project; -The character and fitness of the owners of the facility; -Whether the applicant has obtained approval of the municipality in which the project is proposed by local referendum; -The process of licensure of a destination golf resort and convention center as a facility license; -A requirement that the facility bring additional economic opportunities to the surrounding region including job creation, increased revenue, and increased tax revenue; -A requirement that the facility be in a town along the Massachusetts border and be reasonably accessible by a major highway that connects New Hampshire and Massachusetts; and -A requirement that the facility involve at least 150,000 square feet of new building space, of which at least 33 percent is used for non-gaming purposes, that at least 50,000 square feet is used for convention and meeting space, that at least 5,000 square feet is used by charities for charitable gaming, and that an 18-hole championship golf course is constructed on the facility.

-Authorizes the attorney general to conduct a background review of each facility operator and key employees (Chap. 284-A:5). -Specifies that upon approval of an operator's license the lottery commission shall charge an initial license fee of (Chap. 284-A:5):

-$50 million for an operator licensee seeking to operate where live horse racing was authorized as of January 1, 2009 or at a destination golf resort and convention center; -$20 million to operate at a facility where live dog racing was authorized as of January 1,2009; and -$10 million to operate at a north country facility.

-Specifies the fee to renew a license to be $1 million at locations where live horse racing is authorized or at a destination golf resort and convention center and that the renewal fee is $500,000 for other facilities (Chap. 284-A:5). -Specifies that the first $50 million thus received by the lottery commission shall be given to the department of health and human services for restoring programs and reducing rates (Chap. 284-A:5). -Requires that 39 percent of income from the video lottery machines be distributed as follows (Chap. 284-A:8):

-30 percent of income be paid to the state for the costs of regulation, administration and enforcement of this chapter; -3 percent of income be paid to the municipality in which the facility is located; -2 percent of income given to the state treasurer to be divided equally amongst each county for "property tax relief"; -1 percent of income distributed to municipalities contiguous to municipalities in which video lottery machine facilities are located; -1 percent of income paid to the state treasurer and credited to the commissioner of the department of health and human services to support programs established to treat problem gambling; -0.5 percent of income paid to the division of travel and tourism development, department of resources and economic development for the purpose of promoting tourism in the state; -0.5 percent of income paid equally to the police standards and training council fund and the fire standards and training and emergency medical services fund; -1 percent of income from machines at a north country facility paid to the state treasurer and credited to the racing and charitable gaming commission to enhance live racing purses; and -1 percent of income dedicated to operations of the Nashua to Boston commuter rail service.

-Specifies that the remaining income be retained by the operator licensee that operates the machines (Chap. 284-A:8). -Requires that all video lottery machines at a facility provide a payoff that averaging at least 87 percent (Chap. 284-A:11). -Specifies that any license issued and any renewal thereof is valid for 5 years unless suspended or revoked by the lottery commission (Chap. 284-A:12). -Establishes within the department of safety, division of state police, a gaming enforcement unit under the supervision of the commissioner of the department of safety (Chap. 284-21-w). -Specifies that the lottery commission has general and sole regulatory authority over the conduct of table games described in this chapter (Chap. 287-H:3). -Specifies that the lottery commission can authorize only a licensed video lottery operator to operate table games (Chap. 287-H:7). -Authorizes the lottery commission to impose a license fee of up to $1 million for the renewal of a table game certificate every 5 years (Chap. 287-H:10). -Authorizes the lottery commission to impose a one-time authorization fee of $10 million on the operator prior to the commencement of the operation of table games at the facility (Chap. 287-H:14). -Requires that the operator pay 8 percent of daily gross revenue from table games to the general fund and retain the remaining gross revenue (Chap. 287-H:15).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows for the expansion of gambling facilities and regulates these new facilities.

Highlights:

-Specifies that the lottery commission has the authority to license and regulate the installation, operation and conduct of video lottery machines at a facility licensee (Chap. 284-A:2). -Requires the lottery commission to issue a report to the fiscal committee no later than November 1 of each year regarding the operation of video lottery machines and any recommendations for future changes (Chap. 284-A:2). -Requires the lottery commission to adopt standards for reviewing, selecting, and granting licenses for no more than 2 north country facility locations and that these standards take into account the following (Chap. 284-A:2):

-The availability of local resources to support services necessary to support the projected guest volume; -The immediate and long range fiscal feasibility of the applicant's proposed project; -The character and fitness of the owners of the facility; -Whether the applicant has obtained approval of the municipality in which the project is proposed by local referendum; -A minimum capital investment of $10 million in the construction or renovation of the facility location; -An agreement with the operator to operate video gaming at the facility in a matter that is consistent with this chapter; -The availability of space for charitable gaming to take place; and -A floor plan suitable for the operation of video lottery that is consistent with this chapter.

-Requires the lottery commission to adopt standards for reviewing, selecting, and granting a resort gaming facility license for one destination golf resort and convention center located in a town along the Massachusetts border in Hillsborough county and that these standards take into account the following (Chap. 284-A:2):

-The availability of local resources to support services necessary to support the projected guest volume; -The immediate and long range fiscal feasibility of the applicant's proposed project; -The character and fitness of the owners of the facility; -Whether the applicant has obtained approval of the municipality in which the project is proposed by local referendum; -The process of licensure of a destination golf resort and convention center as a facility license; -A requirement that the facility bring additional economic opportunities to the surrounding region including job creation, increased revenue, and increased tax revenue; -A requirement that the facility be in a town along the Massachusetts border and be reasonably accessible by a major highway that connects New Hampshire and Massachusetts; and -A requirement that the facility involve at least 150,000 square feet of new building space, of which at least 33 percent is used for non-gaming purposes, that at least 50,000 square feet is used for convention and meeting space, that at least 5,000 square feet is used by charities for charitable gaming, and that an 18-hole championship golf course is constructed on the facility.

-Authorizes the attorney general to conduct a background review of each facility operator and key employees (Chap. 284-A:5). -Specifies that upon approval of an operator's license the lottery commission shall charge an initial license fee of (Chap. 284-A:5):

-$50 million for an operator licensee seeking to operate where live horse racing was authorized as of January 1, 2009 or at a destination golf resort and convention center; -$20 million to operate at a facility where live dog racing was authorized as of January 1,2009; and -$10 million to operate at a north country facility.

-Specifies the fee to renew a license to be $1 million at locations where live horse racing is authorized or at a destination golf resort and convention center and that the renewal fee is $500,000 for other facilities (Chap. 284-A:5). -Specifies that the first $50 million thus received by the lottery commission shall be given to the department of health and human services for restoring programs and reducing rates (Chap. 284-A:5). -Requires that 39 percent of income from the video lottery machines be distributed as follows (Chap. 284-A:8):

-30 percent of income be paid to the state for the costs of regulation, administration and enforcement of this chapter; -3 percent of income be paid to the municipality in which the facility is located; -2 percent of income given to the state treasurer to be divided equally amongst each county for "property tax relief"; -1 percent of income distributed to municipalities contiguous to municipalities in which video lottery machine facilities are located; -1 percent of income paid to the state treasurer and credited to the commissioner of the department of health and human services to support programs established to treat problem gambling; -0.5 percent of income paid to the division of travel and tourism development, department of resources and economic development for the purpose of promoting tourism in the state; -0.5 percent of income paid equally to the police standards and training council fund and the fire standards and training and emergency medical services fund; -1 percent of income from machines at a north country facility paid to the state treasurer and credited to the racing and charitable gaming commission to enhance live racing purses; and -1 percent of income dedicated to operations of the Nashua to Boston commuter rail service.

-Specifies that the remaining income be retained by the operator licensee that operates the machines (Chap. 284-A:8). -Requires that all video lottery machines at a facility provide a payoff that averaging at least 87 percent (Chap. 284-A:11). -Specifies that any license issued and any renewal thereof is valid for 5 years unless suspended or revoked by the lottery commission (Chap. 284-A:12). -Establishes within the department of safety, division of state police, a gaming enforcement unit under the supervision of the commissioner of the department of safety (Chap. 284-21-w). -Specifies that the lottery commission has general and sole regulatory authority over the conduct of table games described in this chapter (Chap. 287-H:3). -Specifies that the lottery commission can authorize only a licensed video lottery operator to operate table games (Chap. 287-H:7). -Authorizes the lottery commission to impose a license fee of up to $1 million for the renewal of a table game certificate every 5 years (Chap. 287-H:10). -Authorizes the lottery commission to impose a one-time authorization fee of $10 million on the operator prior to the commencement of the operation of table games at the facility (Chap. 287-H:14). -Requires that the operator pay 8 percent of daily gross revenue from table games to the general fund and retain the remaining gross revenue (Chap. 287-H:15).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text