NH Senate balks at allowing video slots at 6 sites
CONCORD, N.H. - The state Senate balked at allowing 15,000 video slot machines at six sites in New Hampshire.
Supporters didn't have enough votes to pass the bill, but they had enough to postpone action to buy time.
New Hampshire has long resisted casinos, video slots or expanding gambling at race tracks to include video slots. The House last week killed two bills to expand gambling -- though neither was identical to the one the Senate postponed Wednesday.
Gambling advocates are hoping the state's budget woes will generate enthusiasm for video slots as a revenue-producing alternative to raising taxes.
"There's no question there is a need for revenue," said Manchester Democrat Lou D'Allesandro, the Senate bill's prime sponsor. "We want economic recovery for our state. If you have a better way to solve this problem, please bring it forward."
Webster Democrat Harold Janeway said the price would be too high for those who become gambling addicts.
"The only skill required is to punch a button. The machines can be designed to generate frequent near misses. This has not been called the crack cocaine of gambling for nothing," he said.
The Senate bill would authorize 5,000 machines at the state's only horse track in Rockingham, 2,000 each at three dog tracks and 2,000 each at two undetermined sites in the northern part of the state. Communities could vote to accept video slots. One dog track is closed but is covered by the bill if it reopens.
The state treasury would get 40 percent of the profits. Smaller percentages of the profits would go to local governments, gambling addiction programs, travel and tourism advertising, police, fire and emergency medical services funds and the racing and charitable gaming commission.
Initial license fees paid to the state would be $50 million for slots at the horse track, $20 million at dog tracks and $10 million at a northern New Hampshire facility.
Supporters said adding slots could bring in about $200 million a year to state coffers.
Critics have argued that allowing video slots in New Hampshire would harm the state's image and cause more problems than it would solve.
New Hampshire has neither a personal income tax or general sales tax, and Gov. John Lynch has pledged to veto any legislation that would create such taxes. Lynch also has signaled that he would not support expanded gambling as a way to help solve the state's money problems. (AP)
Comment
Permalink
E-mail
