Dover City Council considers resolution to allow sports betting
Approval would send measure to voters this fall
Approval would send measure to voters this fall
Approval would send measure to voters this fall
The Dover City Council will be one of the first in the state to consider putting sports betting on the November ballot.
Gov. Chris Sununu signed a law last month that legalizes sports betting in the state after local approval. The law requires local governments to pass resolutions to get the question on the ballot for residents to consider.
If voters approve the measure, businesses can apply for licenses to host sports betting with the New Hampshire Lottery Commission.
The Dover City Council will consider the resolution Wednesday night. It has already voted unanimously to put Keno back on the ballot after voters shot it down last time.
"Somersworth voted it in and Keno went to Somersworth, which took away a lot of business out of the city of Dover," Mayor Karen Weston said.
City leaders decided to move forward with the resolution after getting a letter from the Lottery Commission explaining the new sports betting law.
"In conversation, it was, 'Are we going to be behind the eight ball again or do we want to go forward, hoping we can get this put on the ballot?' So, again, the residents of the city of Dover could vote to help with that offset," Weston said.
Hana Chung, owner of Asia Chinese Restaurant, said many of her clients bring in scratch tickets, and she believes people are more open now to Keno and would consider it in the bar area. She said she also might consider sports betting.
"I would definitely be open to the idea if somebody would explain how it works," she said.
Those explanations could come in October. If the resolution passes the city council, a public hearing must be held 30 days before voters head to the polls.
"It's primarily to let voters and residents speak about their ideas about sports betting, but also help get the word out that the question will, in fact, be on the ballot," said City Manager Michael Joyal.
The Lottery Commission will only approve up to 10 licenses for businesses in the state after communities give their approval. Five online licenses will also be available.
Lottery officials said sports betting could be implemented in the state by early 2020.