Stunning Setback For Sports Betting In Nashua

NASHUA, NH — It was not the anniversary present that Boston Billiards Club & Casino was hoping for Tuesday night. Three years to the week after beginning its run as a New Hampshire Charitable Gaming facility — over which time it generated enough revenue to donate more than $5.6 million back to state non-profits — the hope was to enhance the gaming operation and donations as one of the 10 possible retail locations allowed under the state's new sports gambling law.

But those hopes were dashed — in stunning fashion — on election night when Nashua voters rejected the ballot resolution that would have allowed retail sports betting operations in the city. State guidelines said that each city or town must approve a retail location within its limits for it to be considered for a license. Berlin, Claremont, Franklin, Manchester and Somersworth approved the retail outlets, with Concord, Dover and Rochester joining Nashua in opposition.

The Nashua vote was a close one with the provision failing 4,730 to 4,665, according to unofficial results pending absentee and write-in ballots Tuesday night.

"We are definitely disappointed," said Kevin McMahon, Director of Marketing for Boston Billiards & Casino. "Leading up to it, we didn't really hear of anybody in opposition to it. There was a public hearing we went to that was supposed to last from 7 to 9:30 one night. There were two people who spoke up for it, and nobody spoke up against it. The meeting was over in 12 minutes."

With Gov. Chris Sununu championing tax revenue from sports betting as a way to help fund education by getting out in front of border states like Massachusetts in what many believe is a national trend, and Nashua alderman candidates lining up in support of having at least one of the retail locations in the city, there was confidence that the relatively light amount of debate on the resolution was a good thing for sports gambling proponents.

In retrospect, that apparently was not true.

"I don't know if everybody understood what is happening with sports betting and what they were voting for," McMahon said. "It is coming to the state. Sports betting is the law. It's eventually coming everywhere, so this would have been a chance for Nashua to take advantage and get the taxes from over the border (in Massachusetts)."

McMahon said his early conversations suggest the only recourse for those who would still like to see Nashua have a sports betting retail outlet will be to get it on a second ballot referendum next year.

"The New Hampshire Lottery appreciates and respects the voting process in New Hampshire," said Charlie McIntyre, executive director of New Hampshire Lottery. "With five cities voting to allow sports book retail locations, we can continue with the sports betting implementation process, developing a responsible system that engages players and drives revenue for education in New Hampshire."

New Hampshire towns will be able to place the question on their town meeting warrants in the spring. The state recently approved vendors for its retail locations and its mobile betting system. The NH Lottery expects to have mobile sports betting available across the state by January, with sports book locations up and running by late winter or early spring.

While sports betting revenues go to education, and charitable gaming revenues go to local non-profits, McMahon said the hope was that increased traffic in places like Boston Billiards & Casino for sports gambling would drive additional patrons to table games, which would have increased charitable gaming donations.

"It has been very beneficial to the cities and the taxpayers," McMahon said. "We thought that was enough to offset any negative feelings people had about gambling. It's unfortunate that we won't be able to cross promote the two and better assist the charities through our gaming."

Despite the setback, McMahon said Boston Billiards & Casino is well-poised to move forward successfully with its 16 poker tables, 17 table games, pool hall and function room.

"It will be business as usual there," he said. "We're busy. We're growing. We have 175 employees. We expect that to continue despite sports betting not being voted in here in Nashua."

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