HB 480 — The NH Sports Betting Law
HB 480 is the foundational statute that made sports betting legal in New Hampshire. Signed by Governor Chris Sununu on July 12, 2019 — just over a year after the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA — the law established the framework, the regulator, and the bidding process that put DraftKings in monopoly position.
Key Sponsors
Rep. Timothy Lang
House sponsorRepublican from Belknap District 4. Lead sponsor and primary public advocate during legislative hearings.
Gov. Chris Sununu
Signed into lawRepublican governor. Signed HB 480 on July 12, 2019. Strong public supporter of using gaming revenue for the Education Trust Fund.
What HB 480 Did
Single-operator monopoly via competitive bid
Authorized the NH Lottery Commission to select one mobile/online operator and up to ten retail locations. Selection via competitive bidding designed to maximize state revenue share.
Division of Sports Wagering
Established a new division within the NH Lottery Commission to license, regulate, and audit sports betting operators. The Division reports to the existing Lottery Commission structure.
51% revenue share floor (with monopoly bid)
No specific tax rate fixed in statute — instead, the law authorized bidders to compete on the revenue share they would offer. DraftKings’ winning bid of 51% became the operational rate.
18+ minimum age
Set the minimum age at 18, one of the lowest in the US. Aligned with NH’s general "adult" threshold rather than the 21+ standard used in casino-licensed states.
College prop restriction
Prohibited player prop bets on in-state college teams. Game-level wagers (spreads, totals, moneylines) remain legal on UNH and other NH-based college teams.
Education Trust Fund allocation
Directed the bulk of state sports betting tax revenue to the New Hampshire Education Trust Fund, which supports K-12 public education.
How DraftKings Won the Monopoly
HB 480 authorized the bidding process — but the 51% revenue share that defines the NH market came from DraftKings’ aggressive proposal, not from the statute itself.
1. RFP issued
July-Sept 2019NH Lottery Commission issued a Request for Proposals in summer 2019, immediately after the Governor signed HB 480.
2. 13 bidders submitted
Sept 2019Major US sportsbook operators submitted proposals. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, William Hill, and others competed.
3. DraftKings selected
Nov 2019DraftKings won by offering the most aggressive revenue share: 51% as the sole operator, dropping to 21% if competitors were added later.
4. Contract signed
Nov 2019Initial 6-year contract. DraftKings agreed to launch mobile sportsbook plus operate retail kiosks at charitable gaming venues.
5. Launch
Dec 30, 2019DraftKings Sportsbook launched mobile and retail on December 30, 2019 — first legal sportsbook in New England.
What Came Next
HB 330 + HB 354 (2021)
Technical amendments that refined regulatory authority and operator reporting requirements.
$172M+ to Education Trust Fund
Cumulative contribution from sports betting tax revenue since launch (as of early 2026).
Feb 2026 contract extension
NH Lottery Commission extended the DraftKings exclusive contract through June 30, 2028, with a potential second 2-year extension through 2030.
Failed Aug 2025 age-raise
An attempt to raise the minimum betting age from 18 to 21 failed to pass the NH legislature.
HB 480 Questions
When was HB 480 signed?
July 12, 2019, by Governor Chris Sununu. The law took immediate effect, and the NH Lottery Commission moved to issue the operator RFP within weeks.
Why did NH choose a single-operator model?
Two reasons. First, the competitive bidding structure allowed the state to extract a much higher revenue share (51%) than multi-operator states typically achieve (10-20%). Second, NH already had a centralized regulatory model through the Lottery Commission, making single-operator oversight administratively simpler.
Who was the lead House sponsor?
Representative Timothy Lang, a Republican from Belknap District 4, was the primary House sponsor and public advocate. The bill enjoyed bipartisan support.
Did HB 480 set the 51% tax rate?
No — the bill itself did not specify a rate. Instead, it authorized the Lottery Commission to select operators through competitive bidding. The 51% figure came from DraftKings’ winning bid, not from statute.
Could the law be amended to allow multiple sportsbooks?
Yes, the legislature could amend HB 480 at any time to authorize additional operators. The practical barrier is financial: DraftKings’ contract specifies the 51% rate drops to 21% (or lower) if competitors are added, which would reduce state revenue substantially.
What did HB 480 say about online casino?
Nothing — HB 480 specifically authorized sports wagering, not casino-style games. Online casino (iGaming) remains unauthorized in New Hampshire and would require separate legislation.