IS GAMING IN MASSACHUSETTS GOOD FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE?

Report: Bay State will affect NH gaming potential
December 9, 8:06 AM Manchester Democrat Examiner Paul Briand

Casinos in Massachusetts could have a bearing on how well casinos in New Hampshire do.

PhotoXpress.com photoYesterday we took a look at some of the issues facing New Hampshire as a study commission weighs the expansion of gambling in the state.

Today, we'll look at a study presented to the commission that says what happens in Massachusetts with regard to gambling will affect what happens here in the Granite State.

The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies gave a presentation at the study commission's meeting on Dec. 1 that looked at the potential competition for gambling customers if, in addition to the existing casinos in Connecticut, casinos were added to Massachusetts and to New Hampshire.

It will make a big difference to casinos in New Hampshire if Massachusetts doesn't have casinos.

According to the center's data presented in a PowerPoint slideshow:

17.3 percent of Granite Staters gambled at a casino within the last year;
Women favored slots, while men mostly played the table games;
Just about 2 million Massachusetts residents visited Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun in Connecticut; About 200,000 New Hampshire residents visited the Connecticut casinos;
In 2008, New Hampshire residents spent $261 million on the state's Lottery, $225 million on racing, $128 million on charitable gambling, and about $80 million at casinos in the northeast.