Sports Betting in New Hampshire

If you’re looking to place a bet in New Hampshire, you only really have ONE online option: DraftKings Sportsbook. DK entered a partnership with the New Hampshire Lottery which gave them the exclusive rights to offer online sports betting statewide.

Now, if you prefer betting in person, DraftKings also operates the state’s retail sportsbooks. While there are three physical locations where you can place bets, don’t expect a traditional sportsbook setup with live tellers (because that'd be awesome, right :-)) - these locations offer self-service kiosks:

The law allows for up to 10 retail sportsbooks in NH, but so far these are the online locations that have added an in-person book. That said, if more locations open up, they’d also fall under the DraftKings brand.

Betting in New Hampshire - key things to know

One thing that sets New Hampshire apart is the legal betting age—at just 18 years old, it's younger than most states, where the minimum is typically 21.

Both online and in-person betting are legal, covering professional and college sports, though there are some restrictions. For example, you can’t bet on in-state college teams, nor on any college games held within the state. Esports betting is also prohibited.

Even though New Hampshire doesn’t have any professional sports teams of its own, local bettors still have plenty of options thanks to nearby teams in neighboring states. NFL betting is the most popular, with the New England Patriots being the clear favorite. Their dominance over the past two decades has only fueled interest in betting on football.

In basketball, the Boston Celtics attract a lot of attention, while MLB fans are split between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. Hockey also has a strong following, with many bettors backing the Boston Bruins.

While betting on in-state college teams isn’t allowed, there are still plenty of college sports markets to explore, especially during major events like March Madness.

Tips for first-time bettors in New Hampshire

If you’re new to sports betting in New Hampshire, it’s important to start with a plan. Sports betting can be exciting, but without a strategy, it’s easy to lose more than you intend.

Here is what we tell our new members:

• First, create a bankroll management plan. Decide how much money you’re willing to invest in betting, and break that down into consistent betting units. This helps you manage your funds and keeps your betting habits disciplined.
• Next, familiarize yourself with the different types of bets available. From moneylines and point spreads to over/under totals and parlays, knowing the options gives you more flexibility when placing wagers.
• Finally, don’t hesitate to seek out expert picks and predictions. While doing your own research is valuable, insights from experienced bettors can give you an edge and help you make more informed decisions.

We'll include a few articles at the end of this post, but you can also check out our betting guides and betting tips.

A look back at New Hampshire's betting history.

New Hampshire legalized sports betting back in 2019, with some changes to the industry made in 2021. Here, you can bet both online and in person, but options are limited compared to other states, as mentioned. 

The thing that's different in New Hampshire is its unique setup: DraftKings basically has a monopoly on sports betting. While many other U.S. states feature multiple operators, DraftKings is the sole provider here. So, if you like FanDuel or BetMGM - tough luck!

With more than 30 states now offering legal sports betting, New Hampshire was among the first to join, though it doesn’t really lead in terms of overall handle (how much is bet each year) or revenue.

The legal background

New Hampshire doesn't have a deep-rooted gambling culture, but lawmakers were quick to legalize sports betting after the federal ban was lifted back in 2018. Three key bills helped shape the industry: House Bill 480 in 2019 established the foundation, while House Bills 330 and 354 in 2021 refined the existing laws.

Interestingly, the New Hampshire Lottery initially had control over sports betting but chose to partner with DraftKings, allowing the company to run both online and retail betting operations. DraftKings pays for this exclusive right, however. A 51% tax on its sports betting revenue which is said to go to public programs like education (so that's good!).

The official rollout didn’t happen until early 2020 but by 2023 New Hampshire had a pretty solid sports betting market with strong revenue figures, even though it remained a one-operator state.