Poker Nh
'LOL' was probably the first acronym that I was faced with. It was hugely popular and so common that it was impossible to ignore. I learned pretty fast that it was the same as 'laughing out loud'. At some point 'lol' was so popular that people started using it also in live-poker games. Especially the Swedes. And there were loads of Swedes. Online poker legislation has not been addressed in any shape or form in the state of New Hampshire. Former NH Governor Lynch briefly alluded to the merits of regulated online poker and legal websites in 2010, but since then, very little has been verbalized on the subject.
The Granite State's motto, Live Free or Die, falls short of the patriotic hyperbole that the phrase implies when it comes to gambling. Unlike neighboring states, and jurisdictions farther afield, New Hampshire gambling options are limited owing to a cadre of gambling opponents that materialize whenever a gambling bill begins to wend its way through the legislative corridors in Concord.
These opponents, comprised of religious leaders, law enforcement officials, private citizens, tourism experts, and legislators who all point to the social costs and limited financial benefits that would come from an expanded gambling menu in New Hampshire.
Preferring to be defined by its cute hamlets, quaint towns, and breathtaking natural beauty rather than the sordid and seedy casinos they depict in their opposition efforts, these groups have consistently stymied legislative attempts to advance a gambling bill through the state legislature.
As a result, for Granite State residents looking for the chance to play their favorite hand of poker, they may need to hop in the car for a trip across state lines, or consider opening an offshore real money poker account to play from the comfort of their own home.
While a pioneering trailblazer in the introduction of a statewide lottery, New Hampshire was the first in the nation with its 1964 adoption, neither state leaders nor public opinion point to a friendly landscape for immediate implementation of new gambling regulations.
New Hampshire Gambling Laws
Under New Hampshire's legal code the state defines gambling as, 'risking 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.' The statutes also take a broad view of what constitutes a 'gambling machine.'
Specifically, the law defines such a device as 'anything capable of being used to discharge money or anything that may be exchanged for money, or to display any symbol entitling a person to receive money.' Gambling opponents note that dice and cards display symbols, which could be construed under the law's language broadly against all forms of poker.
When it comes to parsing out penalties for running afoul of the state's legal code, size really matters whether or not the offender is charged with a misdemeanor or felony. While someone who 'conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of a business and such person knowingly and unlawfully permits gambling on their property' is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Conversely, should those endeavors generate more than $2,000 a day, operate for more than ten days, or take in over $5,000 in wagers over a 30-day period, those charges would be bumped up to a felony in the state of New Hampshire. As with many jurisdictions however, these charges appear to be leveled at the owners and operators of these illicit gambling operations and not the individual player that frequents them.
As of 2017, here is a brief rundown where gamblers legally stand when gaming in New Hampshire:
Casino Games— There is no authorized casino play, either commercial or tribal, within the jurisdicyional lines of New Hampshire.
Sports Betting— pari-mutuel betting is available for live horse and dog races, but there is currently no raced run in the state. Gamblers can place bets at established charitable organizations that offer simulcast racing.
Lottery Betting— New Hampshire was the first state to authorize modern day style lotteries, and the games continue to be popular a half a century later. New Hampshire also participates in multi-state pools like Powerball.
Bingo Games—are sanctioned under the state's charitable gaming laws, which mandate that each event be individually licensed.
Live Poker— There are no casinos or card rooms that offer live poker, and the state does not have a social gambling law to cover low stake games among friends.
Online Casinos and Poker— while not currently legal in Iowa, online casino and poker regulations is not likely to enter the legislative record any time soon.
New Hampshire Online Poker Laws
There are no laws on the books authorizing the regulation of online gambling and poker in the Granite State. At the federal level however, two laws, the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, have placed a damper on state legislator's efforts to advance online gambling bills.
As a result of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which targeted the financial institutions and banks that processed the payments for online wagering, many leading banks and credit cards stopped dealing with American players.
That being said however, there are still offshore, U.S. facing websites that are more than willing to accept applications from New Hampshire players. Additionally, players can comfortably participate owing to the fact that the state exerts no enforcement efforts against individual players.
Indeed, while banks and credit card companies make inviting targets for governmental action, there is no way to track individual gamblers playing from the comfort of their own living rooms.
Is it Legal to Play Poker in New Hampshire?
While it is legal to play poker in New Hampshire, it might be hard locating a game owing to the dearth of legal venues. With tribal and commercial casinos banned under Granit State laws, the player looking for their favorite game of skill will have to haunt their favorite charitable organization for an opportunity.
Under the state's charitable gambling laws, worthy organizations are allowed to hold bingo, raffles, and casino style night for charitable purposes, and present the only regally sanctioned game of poker in the state. Although not sanctioned, the grey area where laws meet technology, the online gambling community is available to New Hampshire residents wishing to place a real money bet on their favorite game of poker.
Unlike most other jurisdictions however, New Hampshire's legal code does not offer a social gambling carve out for casual players to enjoy a night with friends over a low value pot of chips.
Will New Hampshire Regulate Online Poker?
Not only is New Hampshire unwilling to pull the trigger on online gambling regulation, but they seem unwilling to even assemble the rifle that they would need to locate a trigger. Industry experts looking at the New Hampshire gambling landscape would point to the lack of any brick-and-mortar casinos within the state as the first stumbling block to establishing an online regulatory plan for website gambling and poker.
Within the last three years, no fewer than five attempts have been beaten back by gambling opponents looking to keep the Granite State free of gaming influences. The most ambitious of the measures would have authorized the opening of six commercial casinos within the state, but this proposal never saw the light of day once leaving committee. Another measure, still pending, seeks to raise the betting limit of $4 on charitable gambling operations.
While none of these measures have advanced gambling opportunities in the Granite State, they do indicate that there is public will behind the idea of bringing regulated gambling to New Hampshire. That being said however, it is highly unlikely that the state will be in the next tier of states looking at regulation efforts of the online gambling market. In all likelihood, leaders in Concord will probably wait to see what happens in neighboring Massachusetts, which is much closer to branching out into the online gambling world.
Those with an understanding of New Hampshire's position on the subject anticipate that it will be more than five years before they can reliably say that the state would seriously consider adopting an online gambling bill into law.
History of Gambling in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's legislative record is fairly lacking when it comes to approving ambling measures, which is a bit of a surprise considering they were pioneering trailblazers when it came to approving a state-wide lottery in 1964.
Nearly a decade before most other states even thought of that as an option, legislators in Concord put ink to a bill that would provide a lottery option that is still popular to this day. After this groundbreaking legislative move however, the state pulled back on the reigns of regulated gambling. As such, the state lags behind much of the rest of the nation when it comes to offering games of chance and skill.
Gambling first came to the state in 1933 when the legislature passed a bill allowing for pari-mutuel betting. The original law allowed for betting at licensed horse tracks, which saw active service until the state's last horse track closed down in 2012, but race enthusiasts can still place their wagers on simulcast races from other states.
Greyhound racing also received the legislative nod in 1971, which opened up an entirely new venue for racing aficionados, but a cultural backlash against the races, complaints that the care of the animals was substandard, resulted in their eventual decline and stoppage.
In terms of advances in gambling legislation in the Granite State, little has come to fruition in the decades since the 1970s. As mentioned, each legislative session witnesses at least one bill wending its way through the legislative corridors of power, so gambling enthusiasts are hopeful for when the political calculus changes in their favor and casinos make an appearance in New Hampshire.
Poker Hands
References
The state of New Hampshire offers a variety of domestic state-licensed land-based casino venues holding poker tournaments and charitable organization licensed by the state to hold poker games, however, the state does not offer any domestic state-licensed online poker gambling platforms. Nonetheless, until NH authorizes online poker gambling those seeking more poker game variations and expanded features can play poker online at licensed offshore online poker rooms.
We have created this guide to inform residents of New Hampshire about the legality of licensed offshore online NH poker rooms, domestic poker options, and what to expect from online poker games.
Are Online Poker Sites Legal In New Hampshire?
Yes they are. Domestic online poker rooms are not authorized by the state via legislation, thus illegalizing domestic unlicensed online poker gambling operations. However, New Hampshire gambling laws do not explicitly forbid the use of licensed offshore online poker gambling sites.
This is likely because they don’t want to outlaw online poker and because the federal government makes no prohibitions against these types of sites. In fact, most NH poker laws are directed toward domestic operations and operators.
Legally Licensed Online Poker Sites Accepting New Hampshire Players
Below poker players can find top-rated licensed offshore online poker sites accepting New Hampshire residents. Each of these sites is properly licensed and regulated outside of the US and have built a stellar reputation for fair gaming and fast payouts. These poker sites boast robust features, games, bonuses, and tournaments.
| Site Name | Bonus | Rating | Type | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site | |||
| $1000 | Poker | Visit Site |
Other New Hampshire Gambling Pages
Poker Nha Trang Club
Where Can I Play Local Land-Based Poker Games?
These are some of the available poker gambling venues in the state of New Hampshire licensed by the Racing and Charitable Gaming Division under Games of Chance Facilities:
- Lakes Region Casino – Belmont, NH
- The River Casino and Sports Bar – Nashua, NH
- Ocean Gaming Casino – Hampton, NH
- Cheers Poker Room Casino – Salem, NH
- Manchester Poker Room & Casino – Manchester, NH
What Games Can I Play At New Hampshire Online Poker Rooms?
Licensed offshore online New Hampshire poker websites feature various versions of poker and multiple ways to play it. The primary way that online poker games are played these days is through the groundbreaking software that has been specially created by individual brands known as Proprietary software. This style of hosting games provides new exciting poker variations to players, as well as, customizable skins, and game settings.
Players using poker software will see options for high, medium, and low stakes games that range in their rule sets from Omaha, Texas Hold’Em, Americana, 32 Card Draw, to all different types of stud poker. These options will be listed according to their buy-ins and betting requirements and the filters players have set on their game search.
Are There Online Poker Tournaments That I Can Play In?
Poker Now
The Tournaments found on licensed offshore online NH poker rooms are one of the most exciting aspects of online poker. There are several tournament poker game variations, including double jackpot, bonus rounds, exotic poker games, and much more. Some prizes include winning an in-person seat in the most prestigious poker tournaments in the world.
Each of the sites recommended above have different offerings in terms of the tournaments that they provide. Some popular ones are the sit-and-go tournaments that run quickly and allow players to get on with their day. Then there are the Free Roll tournaments that are free to enter and offer NH players a higher chance to come out on top.
Can I Play For Free At Online Poker Sites?
Yes, many licensed offshore online poker sites offer Free Play options as a great way to get used to the online poker software. While players might know how to play poker really good in person, online poker requires a different gaming style. Free Play also allows players to build new strategies. Players can enjoy the Free Play poker until you are ready to take on the felt table with real money. This feature is also available at licensed offshore NH online casinos, and NH online bingo sites.
Are There Online Poker Bonuses For New Hampshire Players?
Yes, poker bonuses are one of the best perks of licensed offshore online poker sites. Common bonuses available are Welcome Bonuses, Reload Bonuses, and Cryptocurrency Deposit Bonuses – these are better known as match bonuses which match a player’s deposit amount up to a predetermined percentage in additional funds. Other available bonuses include tournament bonuses, referral bonus, mobile user exclusive bonuses, free chips, and game specific bonuses.
However, other poker specific bonuses known as Poker bonuses are often disbursed in increments after wager requirements are met – these are more lucrative than typical bonuses but take time to receive in full.
What Are NH Player’s Available Banking Options?
Banking options tend to vary across the web according to brand and where players are located. Unfortunately, due to the UIGEA, traditional payment methods like major credit and debit cards are normally declined by domestic banks fearing repercussions of the UIGEA for knowing processing gambling-related transactions. Nonetheless, below are the typical alternative banking options NH players will find available at any of the licensed offshore online poker sites we suggested above.
- Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies
- Preloaded Gift Cards
- Person 2 Person Transfers
- Wire Transfers
- Money Orders
- Check by Mail
Can I Play Real Money Poker Games From My Mobile Phone?
Yes, of course. NH players can enjoy online poker games directly from their mobile either using HTML5 responsive design or downloadable native apps. HTML5 allows programmers to take online poker games and attach them directly to a URL for local hosting on their own servers on any mobile browser. Poker brands requiring players to download an app is not as common anymore but still a possibility for mobile poker among some of the brands we recommend.