CONCORD, N.H. — More than 6,000 people registered to bet on sports in New Hampshire in the first day since the launch, according to the state lottery.
New Hampshire became the second New England state to offer sports betting on Monday, with Republican Gov. Chris Sununu placing the first bet on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl. The state now offers sports betting online and on mobile devices.
Rhode Island launched sports betting a year ago.
A sports betting bill approved by the Maine Legislature last year was held by Gov. Janet Mills, and will be resurrected once the Legislature returns in January.
The New Hampshire Lottery reported Tuesday night that there were more than 6,000 registered players and more than $250,000 wagered so far. The lottery said it’s seeing a significant number of Massachusetts residents registering and playing in New Hampshire.
The lottery described the initial numbers as “very promising.”
“Clearly there is strong consumer demand that will only grow as we market this new and exciting product,” Charlie McIntyre, the lottery’s executive director, said in a statement.
New Hampshire approved a six-year contract with DraftKings, which is headquartered in Boston, to operate sports books in the state. A state law allows anyone over 18 to participate.
New Hampshire will receive 50 percent of sports betting revenue. The wagering is expected to produce an estimated $7.5 million for education in fiscal year 2021 and $13.5 million two years later.
The U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 paved the way for states to allow sports betting. It is now underway in 14 states.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less