Poll Shows Large Percentage of Residents Want Two or More Casinos

A poll conducted at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth shows that nearly half of New Hampshire residents would support two or more casinos, double the amount of those who want a single casino, according to the Nashua Telegraph.

The poll was a sample of 414 adults with a margin of error of 4.8 percent, according to the paper. It was conducted by the school's Center for Policy Analysis.

The state Senate passed Senate Bill 152 last week 16-8, moving the discussion to the House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 152 calls for up to 150 table games and no more than 5,000 video lottery/slot machines at one casino location in the state. Gov. Maggie Hassan (D-Exeter) has called for one highly regulated casino in southern New Hampshire.

The House killed one bill yesterday proposing the construction of two regulated casinos, but tabled another proposing up to six facilities. The action leaves a potential vehicle to advance an alternative casino bill, possibly with competitive bidding for more than one location.