Casino Bill Hearing Tuesday

Casino gambling is in the Statehouse spotlight on Tuesday, when a special House committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill 152, the bill previously passed by the Senate that would legalize one casino in southern New Hampshire.

Lawmakers are anticipating a crowd: They've reserved Representatives Hall for the hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

House Finance Chairwoman Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord) is also chair of the joint committee of Finance and Ways & Means members that Speaker Terie Norelli assigned to review the legislation. In a statement, Wallner said,

"On Tuesday we will hold a public hearing on SB 152, giving the community an opportunity to provide us with feedback on how they think expanded gambling will impact their communities and our state as a whole. We look forward to hearing from the public before we begin work sessions on the bill."

The joint committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, April 17, to hear additional testimony and to outline the process. Subcommittees will be announced prior to that meeting.

The Senate voted 16-8 to pass SB 152 last month. The bill calls for legalizing one high-end casino with up to 150 table games and no more than 5,000 slot machines.

Gov. Maggie Hassan has thrown her support behind one high-end, highly regulated casino in the southern part of the state. She included $80 million from a casino licensing fee in her recommended budget. Hassan maintains that the revenue would help the state meet critical needs, and that gambling is already here, especially with Massachusetts moving to establish casinos.

Jim Rubens, the chairman of the Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling, has said the fight against a casino has always been in the House. After the Senate easily passed the bill, Rubens said promised opponents would redouble efforts to kill the bill. He said, in a statement at that time,

"For Republicans wanting responsible state budgets built on real revenues, casino license money promises are falling flat. Democrats wanting sustainable revenues to support higher education, mental healthcare, and highways know that serious debate over options will not begin until SB152 is defeated on the House floor."