New Hampshire runs the cleanest single-operator betting market in the country. Since launching in December 2019, the state has had exactly one legal sportsbook — DraftKings — which pays a remarkable 51% of its revenue to the state in exchange for that exclusivity. It’s a small market that punches well above its weight per capita. This guide explains how it works, what’s legal and the rules to know.
Is online gambling legal in New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire legalized sports betting under HB 480, signed by Governor Chris Sununu in July 2019, and DraftKings launched on 30 December 2019 — making the state the first in New England to go live. The market is regulated by the New Hampshire Lottery, and the minimum age is 18, one of the lowest in the US. You must be physically located in New Hampshire to bet, confirmed by geolocation. Real-money online casino is not legal in New Hampshire.
What you can play in New Hampshire
- Sportsbook: mobile and retail betting through the state’s single licensed operator.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in New Hampshire through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering for New Hampshire bettors through licensed ADW apps.
- Online casino: not yet legal in New Hampshire — see the outlook below.
Online gambling in New Hampshire by the numbers
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Launched | 30 December 2019 |
| Tax rate | 51% of revenue (among the highest in the US) |
| Operators | 1 (DraftKings, exclusive) |
| FY2025 | $815m handle; record ~$40m tax |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 18+ |
The single-operator model
New Hampshire’s market is a case study in trading competition for revenue. When the state put its sportsbook out to bid in 2019, DraftKings beat 12 other proposals by offering the state 51% of its revenue in exchange for being the sole operator, mobile and retail. That rate is among the highest in the country (tied with New York, Rhode Island and Oregon), and it has funnelled more than $172 million into the state’s Education Trust Fund since launch. Crucially, the contract says the rate would drop to 21% if competitors were added — so both the state and DraftKings have a strong incentive to keep the monopoly intact, and in February 2026 the Lottery extended the deal through 2028.
For bettors, the upshot is no choice of book — but a stable, well-regulated product. The state’s 18+ age makes it one of just a few US jurisdictions allowing betting before 21; a 2025 bill to raise it to 21 failed in committee. One quirk of the exclusive deal: DraftKings does not offer its Predictions event-contract platform in New Hampshire, one of only a few states where it withholds that product.
The single-operator model has been unusually productive. In fiscal 2025 DraftKings took around 27 million wagers worth $815 million in New Hampshire, generating a record ~$40 million in tax for public education, and lifetime handle is nearing $4.5 billion. On a per-capita basis the state ranks among the top three nationally for sports betting revenue — proof that a well-structured monopoly can out-earn many larger, more crowded markets. The only comparable setup is Rhode Island, where the state lottery runs a similar single-operator system.
Sportsbooks available in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a single-operator state: DraftKings is the only legal sportsbook, online and retail. We don’t currently partner with DraftKings, so you won’t find our offers on this page — we only feature operators we work with and can verify. This guide exists to explain how the NH market works; if you bet in New Hampshire, DraftKings is your only legal option.
For more, see our New Hampshire sportsbook guide and promo codes page.
Popular bets and New Hampshire sports
New Hampshire has no major pro franchise, so the state is firmly in Boston’s orbit — the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox draw the most action — with UNH carrying the college flag. Standard New Hampshire markets — moneylines, spreads, totals and parlays/same-game parlays — are all available through the single licensed app. The NFL drives the most handle by far.
Bet types explained
New to betting in New Hampshire? The New Hampshire staples are straightforward. The moneyline is the simplest — a straight pick of the winner, say the UNH Wildcats to win outright. A New Hampshire point spread evens out a mismatch by handicapping the favorite, handy when the UNH Wildcats are heavily fancied, while a total asks only whether the combined score clears a line. From there New Hampshire bettors build parlays (several legs, all must win), same-game parlays from a single the UNH Wildcats game, season-long futures, and live in-play markets that move as the UNH Wildcats play.
Choosing a New Hampshire sportsbook
There’s no choosing to do — DraftKings is the only legal sportsbook in New Hampshire, so the “decision” is really just whether to bet within the regulated market at all. The strong advice is yes: a licensed, audited book is far safer than any unregulated offshore alternative, even one promising more “choice.” If you want a wider field of apps, you’d need to bet (legally) in a neighbouring multi-operator state like Massachusetts.
How to start betting in New Hampshire
Signing up in New Hampshire is quick — be 21+ and inside New Hampshire, pick a licensed New Hampshire sportsbook, and create an account with accurate information for verification. After opting into the New Hampshire promo and depositing, set your limits, place your first New Hampshire bet, and cash out whenever the offer’s New Hampshire conditions are satisfied.
Will New Hampshire legalize online casino?
Not yet. A 2025 Senate bill proposed legalizing online casino, but it did not pass. For now, sports betting (through DraftKings), DFS and horse racing are the only legal online options — avoid unregulated offshore casino sites. We’ll update this New Hampshire page if iGaming advances.
For the full picture, see our New Hampshire online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach New Hampshire.
Is online gambling safe in New Hampshire?
Yes. DraftKings is licensed and overseen by the New Hampshire Lottery, which audits for fair odds and prompt payouts; the app protects your deposits and verifies your identity, age and location before each bet. Because New Hampshire has only one legal operator, any other “NH sportsbook” you encounter is an unregulated offshore site — avoid it and stick to the licensed product.
Responsible gambling in New Hampshire
Keep New Hampshire betting in proportion: it is entertainment in New Hampshire, and your stake should be money you can afford to lose. Use the limit, time-out and self-exclusion controls every licensed New Hampshire app provides, and set them up front rather than mid-streak. Help for New Hampshire bettors is free and confidential 24/7 on 1-800-GAMBLER.
New Hampshire sports betting FAQ
1. Is online sports betting legal in New Hampshire?
Yes. Sports betting launched on 30 December 2019, regulated by the New Hampshire Lottery, with DraftKings as the sole operator. You must be 18+ and physically in New Hampshire.
2. Why is DraftKings the only sportsbook in New Hampshire?
DraftKings won the state’s exclusive contract in 2019 by offering a 51% revenue share. The rate would fall to 21% if competitors were added, so the state has a strong incentive to keep it the only operator. The deal runs through 2028.
3. How old do you have to be to bet in New Hampshire?
18. New Hampshire is one of only a few US jurisdictions allowing betting before 21; a 2025 bill to raise the age to 21 failed.
4. Is online casino legal in New Hampshire?
No. Real-money online casino games are not legal in New Hampshire — only sports betting (through DraftKings), DFS and horse racing.
5. Does american.bet have New Hampshire offers?
No. We only feature operators we work with and can verify, and we don’t currently partner with DraftKings, New Hampshire’s sole sportsbook. This page explains how the New Hampshire market works rather than promoting offers.
6. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in New Hampshire?
Yes — Kalshi-style platforms operate in New Hampshire under federal CFTC oversight, not New Hampshire gambling law, which is how they sidestep state licensing. Because their sports markets resemble wagering, New Hampshire’s status for them is unsettled, with 2026 court rulings favoring Kalshi even as the appeals grind on. In New Hampshire, treat them as adjacent to a licensed sportsbook, not a swap for one.
7. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, sweepstakes (“social”) casinos such as Chumba and Stake.us run on dual-currency mechanics that keep them outside New Hampshire gambling rules. The trade-off for New Hampshire players is fewer protections than a licensed sportsbook offers, and a status several states are now challenging, so approach them warily in New Hampshire.
8. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in New Hampshire?
DFS is available to New Hampshire players under its own rules, distinct from New Hampshire sports betting. The main names in New Hampshire are DraftKings and FanDuel, with PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper offering the player-pick format.
9. Can I bet on horse racing online in New Hampshire?
Yes. Pari-mutuel horse racing is open to New Hampshire residents through licensed ADW apps such as TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, covering tracks nationwide and separate from the New Hampshire sportsbook.
10. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in New Hampshire?
Help in New Hampshire is free, confidential and available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed New Hampshire app. Nobody in New Hampshire has to be in crisis to reach out.
18+. Must be physically located in New Hampshire. Gambling problem in New Hampshire? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.