Online poker enthusiasts in New Hampshire are treated to a fantastic variety of poker games in an assortment of different variants. Given the fact that there's no land-based poker rooms in New Hampshire, you won't be able to find a better selection of poker games anywhere else in the state other than playing online. The new Filotimo Casino, formerly Manchester Poker Room, is the premier gaming experience in New England! Stop in and see our new 40,000 sq. Open 7 days a week Noon to 1a. Daily Promotions! Mondays High Hands $500/hr., 1p to 10p. Tuesdays High Hands $300/hr., Noon to 4p. Wednesdays High Hands $200/hr., 1p to 10p. Thursdays High Hands. New Hampshire Poker Laws. New Hampshire was an aggressive state when it comes to gambling in the early years. The state was the first to legalize a lottery, and pari-mutuel wagering on horse races was legalized even before the lottery was legalized. Poker is any of a number of card games in which players wager over which hand is best according to that specific game's rules in ways similar to these rankings.Often using a standard deck, poker games vary in deck configuration, the number of cards in play, the number dealt face up or face down, and the number shared by all players, but all have rules which involve one or more rounds of betting. The place for all poker rooms in NH to advertise their respective rooms.
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Last Updated February 14, 2020
As New Hampshire lacks the sort of full-service poker options a state like California provides, poker fans from the state are left with two choices: Make the long drive across the border to a casino with a poker room in a neighboring state, or fire up the home computer and take their pick from the tens of thousands of games running around the clock online.
While some people do choose the former, it's the latter option – online poker – that has truly been embraced by players from New Hampshire.
We're going to take a closer look at the state's relationship with poker (and gambling) from a few perspectives, including legal, cultural and historical, in our Guide to Online Poker in New Hampshire.
Type/Code | Summary |
---|---|
State Code Section(s) | XXIV.284-287; LXII.647.1-2 |
Definition of Gambling | To risk something of value upon a future contingent event not under one's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that something of value will be received in the event of a certain outcome. |
Definition of Gambling Machine | Any device or equipment which is capable of being used to play sweepstakes or games of chance and which discharges money, or anything that may be exchanged for money, cash equivalent, debit card, merchandise credit card, or opportunities to enter sweepstakes or play games of chance, or displays any symbol entitling a person to receive such a prize. |
Definition of Game of Chance | Any game involving gambling or any lottery but shall not include any game involving the use of a slot machine or any other device in the nature of a slot machine, 50/50 raffles, or ice-out contests. |
Online Poker/Gambling | The most recent serious attempt to legalize online poker and casino games was in 2017, and some discussions continued into 2018 but not serious enough to put a bill on the floor of the legislature. |
Live Poker | The lack of casinos means there are no live poker rooms in the state. |
Casinos | No casinos are operational or legal in New Hampshire in 2018, though some lawmakers seek to change that with the passage of a broad gambling expansion bill in the coming years. |
Sports Betting | Sports betting is not currently legal in New Hampshire, and there are no proposals pending. |
DFS | New Hampshire legalized daily fantasy sports in 2017. |
Other Forms of Gambling | Charitable gambling, lottery, bingo, raffles, horse and dog racing, on-track pari-mutuel betting. |
Latest Updates on New Hampshire Online Poker
The people of New Hampshire have been noticing neighboring states offer more gambling options. Massachusetts has several casinos sprouting up, and the Canadian province of Quebec, just across the border, has more gambling than New Hampshire. Lawmakers, too, have seen the benefits that other states have reaped, especially in the New England area. Not only do those states benefit from boosted tourism, they take in more revenue.
Within the past decade, there were several attempts to increase gambling opportunities. In 2013, Governor Maggie Hassan seriously lobbied for casinos after learning about the efforts of neighboring Massachusetts. At that time, she said the state could lose approximately $75 million per year to casinos across the state border.
It took studies and two years, but Hassan worked with several lawmakers in 2015 to push a bill that would have allowed the construction of two land-based casinos in New Hampshire. The Senate bill did well and passed, but the House side rejected it by a fairly wide margin.
In 2017, three Republican legislators introduced an online gambling bill to decriminalize and legalize online poker and casino games. They saw the success of the games in New Jersey and wanted to do something similar in New Hampshire. The bill didn't receive much attention until a House executive session in October of that year, at which time the committee voted unanimously to declare the bill 'inexpedient to legislate,' meaning dead.
Since then, New Hampshire hasn't been keen to introduce new bills pertaining to casinos or online gaming. However, it has been in the news with regard to gambling.
In late 2018, the United States Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel wrote a memo to overturn the 2011 Wire Act decision. That 2011 decision was what made states believe that they could offer online lotteries, casino games, and internet poker. The DOJ under the Trump Administration overturned that to restore the original meaning of the Wire Act. Many states with online gambling threatened lawsuits, but it was the New Hampshire threat that turned into an actual case. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission sued the US Justice Department and US Attorney General William Barr.
The announcement from New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Attorney General Gordon MacDonald, and Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre came in February 2019 in the US District Court. The state's lottery offered online lottery sales based on the 2011 opinion, and those sales helped support educational initiatives in New Hampshire. In 2018 alone, the lottery generated $87.5 million for education. The new ruling from the DOJ put that line of revenue in jeopardy.
NeoPollard, the company that provides the software platform for the New Hampshire Lottery, joined the Commission in the case. They received support from online lotteries and online gambling states across the country. And they actually won their case in the US District Court.
The Justice Department was not pleased, however, and filed an appeal. That appeal is currently accepting its briefs and should hear the case sometime in 2020.
The Basics of Online Poker in New Hampshire
It can be a challenge to separate one online poker room from the next. Many appear quite generic, or even share confusingly similar names. That's where a site like ours comes into play. We're intimately familiar with just about every poker room online, so it's a simple task for us to list the top poker sites in New Hampshire. We don't just pull these names from a hat; all of the sites on here hold valid, legal operating licenses, have a history of handling player funds responsibly and have earned reputations for running fair, safe games:
Bovada | $500 Bonus | 3-4 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires |
---|---|---|---|
Ignition | $2000 Bonus | 3-4 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires |
Intertops | $600 Bonus | 5 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Wires |
Can Poker Players From New Hampshire Play Poker Online?
Not all online poker sites are open to players from the United States. But at the poker rooms online that do accept American customers, NH online poker players are welcome across the board. That takes the only real hurdle between you and the virtual tables out of the way, as signing up and making a real-money deposit at an online poker room in New Hampshire is a dead-simple affair that will only take a few minutes of your time. That sure beats trekking it out to Foxwoods, right?
Is it legal to operate an online poker room in New Hampshire? What about playing for real money at an online poker site from New Hampshire? As is the unfortunate case with nearly all US states, New Hampshire gambling laws are less than totally clear on the issue of online gambling.
Nh Poker Forum
Players with any concern about the legality of their activity should immediately consult an attorney, and should not rely on this website (or others) for legal advice.
Summary of New Hampshire Gambling Codes
To start, here's where you can find the complete state code below . For a bit of help with what can be some admittedly dense reading, here is a brief list of some core components of New Hampshire gambling laws:
New Hampshire has one of the most limited definitions of gambling that you'll find on the books in any US state. Gambling is:
'to risk something of value upon a future contingent event not under one's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that something of value will be received in the event of a certain outcome' (Section 647:2(II(d))). Bovada live dealer blackjack reddit stream.
While the definition may be a bit vague, the law is quite clear when it comes to engaging in gambling: Doing so is illegal (a misdemeanor) unless the activity is specifically exempted from the law. Section 647:1(I(a)) makes it a crime if someone:
'Gambles, or loans money or any thing of value for the purpose of aiding another to gamble.'
When it comes to illegal gambling operations in NH, size matters. It's a misdemeanor if someone
'conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of a business and such person knowingly and unlawfully permits gambling on the premises of the business' (Section 647:2(I-a)).
However, if that gambling generates more than $2,000 in a day, operates for more than 10 days or takes in over $5,000 in wagers over a 30 day period, the charge is bumped up to a felony.
Poker is not referenced as being illegal in New Hampshire's gambling law. Online gambling and online poker are not specifically mentioned in the New Hampshire state code.
When Will New Hampshire Regulate Online Poker?
The rise of online gambling in New England will likely spur New Hampshire to action in the coming years. Not only do New Jersey and Delaware offer online poker and casino games, Pennsylvania just launched their new industry in 2019 and West Virginia will join in 2020 or 2021.
It is not likely that New Hampshire will pursue new legislation to legalize online gambling until the Wire Act case is settled. This may require another year or two if the case goes to the US Supreme Court, which some judges and analysts have predicted. Should New Hampshire win the case, however, there is a high likelihood that its lawmakers will consider expanding gambling once again.
Nh Poker Definition
New Hampshire Gambling Facts
Two aspects of New Hampshire's history with gambling merit particular mention. The first is the state's historic race tracks, one of which – Rockingham Park – has been in operation for over a century. While live racing is no longer a part of New Hampshire gambling, the state nonetheless played a critical role in the nationwide spread of pari-mutuel wagering on racing events.
Gamblers also have New Hampshire to thank for what is arguably the most prevalent form of regulated betting in the United States – the lottery. While New Hampshire certainly didn't invent the lottery, they were the first to bring legal, state-administered lottery games back within the law back in 1964.
New Hampshire's Famous Poker Players
Most players who claim New Hampshire as their home state today are not as famous or infamous. Even so, several of them got their start playing online poker and transitioned to live poker after Black Friday. None of them have exceeded $1 million in earnings in that realm, and some of them on this list (James Guinther, Jeff Cohen, etc.) haven't played in years. The others are players to watch, though.
As of 2020, these were the top-ranked live poker players from New Hampshire, according to the Hendon Mob database:
1. Dan Chalifour ($739K)
2. Michael Drummond ($735K)
3. James Guinther ($644K)
4. Cylus Watson ($593K)
5. Jeff Cohen ($560K)
6. Daniel Dipasquale ($526K)
7. Robert Brown ($510K)
8. Peter Gilmore ($486K)
9. Rodney Legendre ($308K)
10. Paul Freedman ($300K)
Sources & Citations for this Article
For many years the only poker games you could find in New
Hampshire were limit hybrids due to the fact the state had
legislation prohibiting a bet of more than $4 in any casino or
luck based game.
Unfortunately, this included poker. However, on June 30
2015 the governor of New Hampshire signed into legislation a
bill that allowed for unlimited betting in poker. Thus, you can
now find no limit Texas holdem games in pretty much every poker
room in the state. Poker rooms must adhere to one condition
though, and that is 35% of revenue from the games must be
donated to charity, and another 10% to the state. On top of this
the max buy in is $150 per round of play.
This is great for the game in this state as it brings a new
level of excitement, and variance, to the game. It's also good
for limit players as you can now realistically make a living by
playing limit holdem professionally at higher stakes. Of course,
you'll come across one other major beneficiary to this change
and that's the dealers. They now have more job opportunities and
the ability to earn more in tips. In a time when poker is going
south in many states, this was a great change for the game, so
well done New Hampshire!
Because of this change you can find some pretty soft no limit
holdem games in a lot of the poker rooms in New Hampshire. This
will change over time though so if you want to take advantage of
it and feel that you have a sufficient edge, visit one of these
rooms soon.
List of New Hampshire Poker Rooms
Here is our compiled list of all the poker rooms you can find
in the state of New Hampshire:
4jacks Poker Room at Governors Inn
- Location: Rochester, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open Wednesday to Friday from 5pm until 12am
- Tables: 5
- Games: You'll find a daily no limit holdem tournament here
with a buy in of $40 or $50. On top of this they also spread $1
/ $2 and $2 / $4 no limit holdem cash tables. - Ambience: The poker area features 5 well maintained tables
and comfortable chairs and is located within the Governors Inn.
TV's are strategically placed through the room so you can stay
on track with sports scores and the average stack in
tournaments. - Hospitality: This room offers cocktail service at the table
and they also feature high hand and bad beat jackpots. You can
also get food from the Governors Inn, where this poker room is
located. - Players: It's all about fun and good times in this poker room
with a very warm and friendly atmosphere. No one takes their
poker too seriously here, but the poker is of good standard
which will make it challenging enough.
Aces and Eights Casino
- Location: Hampton, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open Monday to Sunday from 12pm until 1am – only from
June 27 to September 11 - Tables: 4
- Games: You will only find no limit holdem $1 / $2 and $2 / $4
cash games here. - Ambience: This new casino features a small poker area with
new and clean tables and chairs. They have placed TV's around
the tables to keep you entertained between hands. - Hospitality: You can get cocktails at the table while you
play in the Aces and Eights Casino, on top of this food is
available but only from the restaurant inside. - Players: The play is quite weak in this casino with most
players being visitors or tourists. If you are in the area and
have a solid game then definitely stop in. The dealers and staff
go out of their way to ensure everyone is having fun and feels
welcome.
Boston Billiard Club & Casino
- Location: Nashua, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open Sunday to Wednesday from 12pm until 12am
- Tables: 16
- Games: This poker room only offers cash games. You will find
$1 / $2 and $2 / $4 no limit holdem; $1 / $2 pot limit Omaha, $1
/ $2 pot limit Omaha high low and $2 / $4 limit holdem. - Ambience: This billiard club features a large poker room
within the casino area, it's quite close to the billiards also
so can get quite loud at times. The wood panelled walls and mood
lighting fit in well with the well maintained tables and chairs.
No smoking is permitted in the poker area and you'll find TV's
on the walls to keep you across the latest sports scores. - Hospitality: Cocktails and food are available at the table
while you play here. On top of this they offer a range of
promotions and jackpots. - Players: The play is quite solid in this poker room and most
the visitors and tourists who visit here will opt to play
roulette or blackjack instead. You can still find some value in
the game though, especially on weekend evenings. It's a fun and
welcoming environment and it feels like you are playing poker
amongst a big party.
Keene Casino
- Location: Keene, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open daily from 12pm until 1am
- Tables: 9
- Games: No limit holdem tournaments are held Wednesday to
Saturday with a buy in ranging from $10 to $150. On top of this
they spread $1 / $2 no limit holdem and $2 / $4 limit Omaha 8 or
better cash games. - Ambience: The poker room is located inside Colony Mills and
features bright purple felt tables against brick work walls and
green chairs on lightly colored carpets. The room features TV's
on the walls and is no smoking for your comfort. - Hospitality: Food and cocktail service is available for
players at the table and they also offer a range of promotions
and jackpots in this poker room. - Players: You'll come across some decent players in this room
with the play being quite tough at most times. The vibe is
friendly and welcoming because the regulars and staff understand
how important new and amateur players are for the poker economy.
If you bring a solid game and can ride out the variance you
should do well here.
Nh Poker Definition
Lakes Region Casino
- Location: Belmont, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open daily from 12pm
- Tables: 10
- Games: You'll find no limit holdem tournaments from Wednesday
to Sunday with the buy in fluctuating between $10 and $50. If
you are looking for a cash game you will find $1 / $1 and $1 /
$2 no limit holdem, $2 / $4 and $4 / $4 limit holdem and $2 / $4
dealer's choice games running. - Ambience: Red felt tables contrast well against the red and
gold carpet and half wood panel walls in this no smoking poker
room. The chairs are a bit random, however they are comfortable
for long sessions. You'll also find TV's on the walls here to
keep you entertained while the guy on the button shuffles his
chips. - Hospitality: This poker room offers players a range of
promotions and progressive jackpots as well as providing
cocktail and food service at the table. - Players: You can come across some great action in this room
with amateur and loose players making for some very juicy spots.
If you bring a solid game you should do well in this fun and
friendly poker room.
Manchester Poker Room
- Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open daily from 12pm until 1am
- Tables: 30
- Games: Cash players will find $1 / $2 and $2 / $4 no limit
holdem; $1 / $2 pot limit Omaha and $1 / $2 pot limit Omaha
high. If you are looking for tournaments you will find no limit
holdem events on varied days of the week and a stud even usually
once a week. The buy in will range by tournament from $10 up to
$220. - Ambience: The room is no-smoking and features TV's on the
walls. The room is always clean and tables and chairs are well
maintained and comfortable for long sessions. - Hospitality: Cocktails and food can be ordered at the table
and you'll also be in the running for a bad beat jackpot in this
poker room. - Players: You will find some great action in this poker room,
particularly on weekends. Dealers and management are friendly
and welcoming which is reflected by the players in the room. If
you bring a good range and some patience you should do well
here.
Nh Poker Forum Nh
Seabrook Poker Room
Nh Poker News Forum
- Location: Seabrook, New Hampshire
- Hours: Monday to Thursday from 3pm until 12am, Friday 12pm
until 1am, Saturday 11am until 1am, Sunday 12pm until 1am - Tables: 25
- Games: No limit holdem tournaments are held daily, with up to
three on some days, and you'll also find a pot limit Omaha
tournament on Sunday. The buy in ranges from $40 to $100 meaning
tournament play is very affordable. For cash players this room
spreads $1 / $2 no limit holdem, $1 / $4 stud, $2 / $4 limit
Omaha 8 or better, and $2 / $4 limit holdem. - Ambience: This no smoking room has TV's on the walls and
features green felt tables and comfortable black chairs in a
well-lit and open room that used to be part of a dog track.
The room has a bit of a temporary feel to it, but is nice to
play poker in nonetheless. - Hospitality: You will automatically take part in this room's
progressive bad beat jackpot which pushes your dropped dollars
even further. On top of this they offer a range of promotions
and also provide players with cocktail and food service at the
table. - Players: The environment and vibe in this room is extremely
friendly and welcoming. Everyone knows everyone else and if they
don't they will go out of their way to welcome you and get to
know you; this comes from players and staff alike. The play is
solid in this room meaning you will need to bring your own A
game to be able to do well. It's a great place to play poker and
has really adapted well to offering no limit play.
Last Updated February 14, 2020
As New Hampshire lacks the sort of full-service poker options a state like California provides, poker fans from the state are left with two choices: Make the long drive across the border to a casino with a poker room in a neighboring state, or fire up the home computer and take their pick from the tens of thousands of games running around the clock online.
While some people do choose the former, it's the latter option – online poker – that has truly been embraced by players from New Hampshire.
We're going to take a closer look at the state's relationship with poker (and gambling) from a few perspectives, including legal, cultural and historical, in our Guide to Online Poker in New Hampshire.
Type/Code | Summary |
---|---|
State Code Section(s) | XXIV.284-287; LXII.647.1-2 |
Definition of Gambling | To risk something of value upon a future contingent event not under one's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that something of value will be received in the event of a certain outcome. |
Definition of Gambling Machine | Any device or equipment which is capable of being used to play sweepstakes or games of chance and which discharges money, or anything that may be exchanged for money, cash equivalent, debit card, merchandise credit card, or opportunities to enter sweepstakes or play games of chance, or displays any symbol entitling a person to receive such a prize. |
Definition of Game of Chance | Any game involving gambling or any lottery but shall not include any game involving the use of a slot machine or any other device in the nature of a slot machine, 50/50 raffles, or ice-out contests. |
Online Poker/Gambling | The most recent serious attempt to legalize online poker and casino games was in 2017, and some discussions continued into 2018 but not serious enough to put a bill on the floor of the legislature. |
Live Poker | The lack of casinos means there are no live poker rooms in the state. |
Casinos | No casinos are operational or legal in New Hampshire in 2018, though some lawmakers seek to change that with the passage of a broad gambling expansion bill in the coming years. |
Sports Betting | Sports betting is not currently legal in New Hampshire, and there are no proposals pending. |
DFS | New Hampshire legalized daily fantasy sports in 2017. |
Other Forms of Gambling | Charitable gambling, lottery, bingo, raffles, horse and dog racing, on-track pari-mutuel betting. |
Latest Updates on New Hampshire Online Poker
The people of New Hampshire have been noticing neighboring states offer more gambling options. Massachusetts has several casinos sprouting up, and the Canadian province of Quebec, just across the border, has more gambling than New Hampshire. Lawmakers, too, have seen the benefits that other states have reaped, especially in the New England area. Not only do those states benefit from boosted tourism, they take in more revenue.
Within the past decade, there were several attempts to increase gambling opportunities. In 2013, Governor Maggie Hassan seriously lobbied for casinos after learning about the efforts of neighboring Massachusetts. At that time, she said the state could lose approximately $75 million per year to casinos across the state border.
It took studies and two years, but Hassan worked with several lawmakers in 2015 to push a bill that would have allowed the construction of two land-based casinos in New Hampshire. The Senate bill did well and passed, but the House side rejected it by a fairly wide margin.
In 2017, three Republican legislators introduced an online gambling bill to decriminalize and legalize online poker and casino games. They saw the success of the games in New Jersey and wanted to do something similar in New Hampshire. The bill didn't receive much attention until a House executive session in October of that year, at which time the committee voted unanimously to declare the bill 'inexpedient to legislate,' meaning dead.
Since then, New Hampshire hasn't been keen to introduce new bills pertaining to casinos or online gaming. However, it has been in the news with regard to gambling.
In late 2018, the United States Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel wrote a memo to overturn the 2011 Wire Act decision. That 2011 decision was what made states believe that they could offer online lotteries, casino games, and internet poker. The DOJ under the Trump Administration overturned that to restore the original meaning of the Wire Act. Many states with online gambling threatened lawsuits, but it was the New Hampshire threat that turned into an actual case. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission sued the US Justice Department and US Attorney General William Barr.
The announcement from New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Attorney General Gordon MacDonald, and Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre came in February 2019 in the US District Court. The state's lottery offered online lottery sales based on the 2011 opinion, and those sales helped support educational initiatives in New Hampshire. In 2018 alone, the lottery generated $87.5 million for education. The new ruling from the DOJ put that line of revenue in jeopardy.
NeoPollard, the company that provides the software platform for the New Hampshire Lottery, joined the Commission in the case. They received support from online lotteries and online gambling states across the country. And they actually won their case in the US District Court.
The Justice Department was not pleased, however, and filed an appeal. That appeal is currently accepting its briefs and should hear the case sometime in 2020.
The Basics of Online Poker in New Hampshire
It can be a challenge to separate one online poker room from the next. Many appear quite generic, or even share confusingly similar names. That's where a site like ours comes into play. We're intimately familiar with just about every poker room online, so it's a simple task for us to list the top poker sites in New Hampshire. We don't just pull these names from a hat; all of the sites on here hold valid, legal operating licenses, have a history of handling player funds responsibly and have earned reputations for running fair, safe games:
Bovada | $500 Bonus | 3-4 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires |
---|---|---|---|
Ignition | $2000 Bonus | 3-4 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Bitcoin, Wires |
Intertops | $600 Bonus | 5 Day Payouts | Accepts Visa, Wires |
Can Poker Players From New Hampshire Play Poker Online?
Not all online poker sites are open to players from the United States. But at the poker rooms online that do accept American customers, NH online poker players are welcome across the board. That takes the only real hurdle between you and the virtual tables out of the way, as signing up and making a real-money deposit at an online poker room in New Hampshire is a dead-simple affair that will only take a few minutes of your time. That sure beats trekking it out to Foxwoods, right?
Is it legal to operate an online poker room in New Hampshire? What about playing for real money at an online poker site from New Hampshire? As is the unfortunate case with nearly all US states, New Hampshire gambling laws are less than totally clear on the issue of online gambling.
Nh Poker Forum
Players with any concern about the legality of their activity should immediately consult an attorney, and should not rely on this website (or others) for legal advice.
Summary of New Hampshire Gambling Codes
To start, here's where you can find the complete state code below . For a bit of help with what can be some admittedly dense reading, here is a brief list of some core components of New Hampshire gambling laws:
New Hampshire has one of the most limited definitions of gambling that you'll find on the books in any US state. Gambling is:
'to risk something of value upon a future contingent event not under one's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that something of value will be received in the event of a certain outcome' (Section 647:2(II(d))). Bovada live dealer blackjack reddit stream.
While the definition may be a bit vague, the law is quite clear when it comes to engaging in gambling: Doing so is illegal (a misdemeanor) unless the activity is specifically exempted from the law. Section 647:1(I(a)) makes it a crime if someone:
'Gambles, or loans money or any thing of value for the purpose of aiding another to gamble.'
When it comes to illegal gambling operations in NH, size matters. It's a misdemeanor if someone
'conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of a business and such person knowingly and unlawfully permits gambling on the premises of the business' (Section 647:2(I-a)).
However, if that gambling generates more than $2,000 in a day, operates for more than 10 days or takes in over $5,000 in wagers over a 30 day period, the charge is bumped up to a felony.
Poker is not referenced as being illegal in New Hampshire's gambling law. Online gambling and online poker are not specifically mentioned in the New Hampshire state code.
When Will New Hampshire Regulate Online Poker?
The rise of online gambling in New England will likely spur New Hampshire to action in the coming years. Not only do New Jersey and Delaware offer online poker and casino games, Pennsylvania just launched their new industry in 2019 and West Virginia will join in 2020 or 2021.
It is not likely that New Hampshire will pursue new legislation to legalize online gambling until the Wire Act case is settled. This may require another year or two if the case goes to the US Supreme Court, which some judges and analysts have predicted. Should New Hampshire win the case, however, there is a high likelihood that its lawmakers will consider expanding gambling once again.
Nh Poker Definition
New Hampshire Gambling Facts
Two aspects of New Hampshire's history with gambling merit particular mention. The first is the state's historic race tracks, one of which – Rockingham Park – has been in operation for over a century. While live racing is no longer a part of New Hampshire gambling, the state nonetheless played a critical role in the nationwide spread of pari-mutuel wagering on racing events.
Gamblers also have New Hampshire to thank for what is arguably the most prevalent form of regulated betting in the United States – the lottery. While New Hampshire certainly didn't invent the lottery, they were the first to bring legal, state-administered lottery games back within the law back in 1964.
New Hampshire's Famous Poker Players
Most players who claim New Hampshire as their home state today are not as famous or infamous. Even so, several of them got their start playing online poker and transitioned to live poker after Black Friday. None of them have exceeded $1 million in earnings in that realm, and some of them on this list (James Guinther, Jeff Cohen, etc.) haven't played in years. The others are players to watch, though.
As of 2020, these were the top-ranked live poker players from New Hampshire, according to the Hendon Mob database:
1. Dan Chalifour ($739K)
2. Michael Drummond ($735K)
3. James Guinther ($644K)
4. Cylus Watson ($593K)
5. Jeff Cohen ($560K)
6. Daniel Dipasquale ($526K)
7. Robert Brown ($510K)
8. Peter Gilmore ($486K)
9. Rodney Legendre ($308K)
10. Paul Freedman ($300K)
Sources & Citations for this Article
For many years the only poker games you could find in New
Hampshire were limit hybrids due to the fact the state had
legislation prohibiting a bet of more than $4 in any casino or
luck based game.
Unfortunately, this included poker. However, on June 30
2015 the governor of New Hampshire signed into legislation a
bill that allowed for unlimited betting in poker. Thus, you can
now find no limit Texas holdem games in pretty much every poker
room in the state. Poker rooms must adhere to one condition
though, and that is 35% of revenue from the games must be
donated to charity, and another 10% to the state. On top of this
the max buy in is $150 per round of play.
This is great for the game in this state as it brings a new
level of excitement, and variance, to the game. It's also good
for limit players as you can now realistically make a living by
playing limit holdem professionally at higher stakes. Of course,
you'll come across one other major beneficiary to this change
and that's the dealers. They now have more job opportunities and
the ability to earn more in tips. In a time when poker is going
south in many states, this was a great change for the game, so
well done New Hampshire!
Because of this change you can find some pretty soft no limit
holdem games in a lot of the poker rooms in New Hampshire. This
will change over time though so if you want to take advantage of
it and feel that you have a sufficient edge, visit one of these
rooms soon.
List of New Hampshire Poker Rooms
Here is our compiled list of all the poker rooms you can find
in the state of New Hampshire:
4jacks Poker Room at Governors Inn
- Location: Rochester, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open Wednesday to Friday from 5pm until 12am
- Tables: 5
- Games: You'll find a daily no limit holdem tournament here
with a buy in of $40 or $50. On top of this they also spread $1
/ $2 and $2 / $4 no limit holdem cash tables. - Ambience: The poker area features 5 well maintained tables
and comfortable chairs and is located within the Governors Inn.
TV's are strategically placed through the room so you can stay
on track with sports scores and the average stack in
tournaments. - Hospitality: This room offers cocktail service at the table
and they also feature high hand and bad beat jackpots. You can
also get food from the Governors Inn, where this poker room is
located. - Players: It's all about fun and good times in this poker room
with a very warm and friendly atmosphere. No one takes their
poker too seriously here, but the poker is of good standard
which will make it challenging enough.
Aces and Eights Casino
- Location: Hampton, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open Monday to Sunday from 12pm until 1am – only from
June 27 to September 11 - Tables: 4
- Games: You will only find no limit holdem $1 / $2 and $2 / $4
cash games here. - Ambience: This new casino features a small poker area with
new and clean tables and chairs. They have placed TV's around
the tables to keep you entertained between hands. - Hospitality: You can get cocktails at the table while you
play in the Aces and Eights Casino, on top of this food is
available but only from the restaurant inside. - Players: The play is quite weak in this casino with most
players being visitors or tourists. If you are in the area and
have a solid game then definitely stop in. The dealers and staff
go out of their way to ensure everyone is having fun and feels
welcome.
Boston Billiard Club & Casino
- Location: Nashua, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open Sunday to Wednesday from 12pm until 12am
- Tables: 16
- Games: This poker room only offers cash games. You will find
$1 / $2 and $2 / $4 no limit holdem; $1 / $2 pot limit Omaha, $1
/ $2 pot limit Omaha high low and $2 / $4 limit holdem. - Ambience: This billiard club features a large poker room
within the casino area, it's quite close to the billiards also
so can get quite loud at times. The wood panelled walls and mood
lighting fit in well with the well maintained tables and chairs.
No smoking is permitted in the poker area and you'll find TV's
on the walls to keep you across the latest sports scores. - Hospitality: Cocktails and food are available at the table
while you play here. On top of this they offer a range of
promotions and jackpots. - Players: The play is quite solid in this poker room and most
the visitors and tourists who visit here will opt to play
roulette or blackjack instead. You can still find some value in
the game though, especially on weekend evenings. It's a fun and
welcoming environment and it feels like you are playing poker
amongst a big party.
Keene Casino
- Location: Keene, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open daily from 12pm until 1am
- Tables: 9
- Games: No limit holdem tournaments are held Wednesday to
Saturday with a buy in ranging from $10 to $150. On top of this
they spread $1 / $2 no limit holdem and $2 / $4 limit Omaha 8 or
better cash games. - Ambience: The poker room is located inside Colony Mills and
features bright purple felt tables against brick work walls and
green chairs on lightly colored carpets. The room features TV's
on the walls and is no smoking for your comfort. - Hospitality: Food and cocktail service is available for
players at the table and they also offer a range of promotions
and jackpots in this poker room. - Players: You'll come across some decent players in this room
with the play being quite tough at most times. The vibe is
friendly and welcoming because the regulars and staff understand
how important new and amateur players are for the poker economy.
If you bring a solid game and can ride out the variance you
should do well here.
Nh Poker Definition
Lakes Region Casino
- Location: Belmont, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open daily from 12pm
- Tables: 10
- Games: You'll find no limit holdem tournaments from Wednesday
to Sunday with the buy in fluctuating between $10 and $50. If
you are looking for a cash game you will find $1 / $1 and $1 /
$2 no limit holdem, $2 / $4 and $4 / $4 limit holdem and $2 / $4
dealer's choice games running. - Ambience: Red felt tables contrast well against the red and
gold carpet and half wood panel walls in this no smoking poker
room. The chairs are a bit random, however they are comfortable
for long sessions. You'll also find TV's on the walls here to
keep you entertained while the guy on the button shuffles his
chips. - Hospitality: This poker room offers players a range of
promotions and progressive jackpots as well as providing
cocktail and food service at the table. - Players: You can come across some great action in this room
with amateur and loose players making for some very juicy spots.
If you bring a solid game you should do well in this fun and
friendly poker room.
Manchester Poker Room
- Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
- Hours: Open daily from 12pm until 1am
- Tables: 30
- Games: Cash players will find $1 / $2 and $2 / $4 no limit
holdem; $1 / $2 pot limit Omaha and $1 / $2 pot limit Omaha
high. If you are looking for tournaments you will find no limit
holdem events on varied days of the week and a stud even usually
once a week. The buy in will range by tournament from $10 up to
$220. - Ambience: The room is no-smoking and features TV's on the
walls. The room is always clean and tables and chairs are well
maintained and comfortable for long sessions. - Hospitality: Cocktails and food can be ordered at the table
and you'll also be in the running for a bad beat jackpot in this
poker room. - Players: You will find some great action in this poker room,
particularly on weekends. Dealers and management are friendly
and welcoming which is reflected by the players in the room. If
you bring a good range and some patience you should do well
here.
Nh Poker Forum Nh
Seabrook Poker Room
Nh Poker News Forum
- Location: Seabrook, New Hampshire
- Hours: Monday to Thursday from 3pm until 12am, Friday 12pm
until 1am, Saturday 11am until 1am, Sunday 12pm until 1am - Tables: 25
- Games: No limit holdem tournaments are held daily, with up to
three on some days, and you'll also find a pot limit Omaha
tournament on Sunday. The buy in ranges from $40 to $100 meaning
tournament play is very affordable. For cash players this room
spreads $1 / $2 no limit holdem, $1 / $4 stud, $2 / $4 limit
Omaha 8 or better, and $2 / $4 limit holdem. - Ambience: This no smoking room has TV's on the walls and
features green felt tables and comfortable black chairs in a
well-lit and open room that used to be part of a dog track.
The room has a bit of a temporary feel to it, but is nice to
play poker in nonetheless. - Hospitality: You will automatically take part in this room's
progressive bad beat jackpot which pushes your dropped dollars
even further. On top of this they offer a range of promotions
and also provide players with cocktail and food service at the
table. - Players: The environment and vibe in this room is extremely
friendly and welcoming. Everyone knows everyone else and if they
don't they will go out of their way to welcome you and get to
know you; this comes from players and staff alike. The play is
solid in this room meaning you will need to bring your own A
game to be able to do well. It's a great place to play poker and
has really adapted well to offering no limit play.
The Poker Room at Hampton Falls
- Location: Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
- Hours: Monday and Thursday from 2pm until 1am, Tuesday and
Wednesday 12pm until 1am, Friday to Sunday from 12pm until 1am - Tables: 30
- Games: You'll find daily no limit holdem tournaments here
with sometimes up to three running each day. The buy in will
range from $50 to $150 depending on the day and time of the
tournament, so call ahead to check. For the cash players they
spread $1 / $1, $1 / $2 and $2 / $4 no limit holdem, $2 / $4
limit holdem and $2 / $4 mixed games. - Ambience: High wooden beams and wooden decor make this a very
nice and attractive poker room. Throw in the maroon and light
brown table felt and maroon chairs and you find yourself just
chomping at the bit to play some poker. The room is open and
well-lit with TV's along the walls. No smoking is permitted in
the poker room at all. - Hospitality: This poker room offers a bad beat jackpot and
also a high hand bonus. On top of this they offer food vouchers
for players during certain times. While playing, you'll get
cocktail and food service at the table which is always nice. - Players: You'll come across some quite weak and loose play in
this particular poker room, especially in the evenings. Most
tables will feature one or two regulars so if you steer clear of
them then you should be able to cash in very nicely. The vibe in
the room is welcoming and friendly, which is matched by the
staff and dealers.
The River Casino
Nh Poker Forum
- Location: Milford, New Hampshire
- Hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm until 1am, Friday 3pm
until 1am, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm until 1am - Tables: 25
- Games: No limit holdem tournaments are held from Thursday to
Sunday with the buy in fluctuating from $5 up to $20. If you are
looking for a cash game you'll find $1 / $1, $1 / $2 and $2 / $4
no limit holdem, $1 / $2 pot limit Omaha high, and $2 / $4
dealer's choice. - Ambience: This no smoking poker room features automatic
shufflers and TV's on the walls to keep you up to date with the
latest sports scores. The blue felt tables are well maintained
and match well with the half wood panel and half white walls. - Hospitality: The poker room at the River Casino offers bad
beat jackpots for both cash and tournament play. They also offer
cocktail and drink service to players at the table. - Players: You'll find a good mix of regulars and amateur
players in this poker room. This means if you pick your spots
well, are patient, and play a decent range you should be able to
chip up quite easily.
Conclusion
Enjoy the new rules in place in New Hampshire the next time
you want to play Texas holdem. Choose from the poker rooms
reviewed above if you live in the state or are planning a trip.