I urge you to oppose eliminating the charitable gaming funding for non-profits in NH. This funding has allowed many charities, several of which I’m personally involved in, to do far more good works in our community. For example, I am on the board of the Hollis Brookline Dollars for Scholar’s charity, and we have been able to greatly expand our scholarship program due to the proceeds from charitable gaming. We went from typically 2-4 scholarships of $1000 each to 6-10 scholarships of $3000 - $5000 each solely because of the revenue we received through the charitable gaming funding for non-profits. This has allowed many more students to be helped by our charity, and our mission would be thwarted without it. Please oppose any cuts or monetary limits for the funds, as this is helping a huge number of Granite Staters in myriad ways. Thank you. CarOline
HB688
House · 2025 sessionDemocraticKilled in HouseTaxing charitable gaming facilities
AIEstablishes a charitable gaming facilities tax and allows cities or towns to vote not to collect it.
authorizing municipalities to tax charitable gaming facilities based on their enterprise value.
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 13, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Division of testimony
25 submissionsI am writing in support of House Bill 688-FN-LOCAL, which authorizes municipalities to tax charitable gaming facilities based on their enterprise value. This bill represents a reasonable approach to ensuring that gaming facilities contribute fairly to the communities in which they operate. Charitable gaming facilities, particularly those with 100 or more machines, generate significant revenue while leveraging the charitable aspect of their operations to justify their presence. While they do provide some financial support to nonprofits, the scale of their profits often far exceeds the portion that benefits charitable causes. By allowing municipalities to impose an enterprise tax, HB 688 creates an opportunity to balance the scales, ensuring these businesses contribute more equitably to local infrastructure, services, and community needs. Furthermore, the optional nature of the tax respects local autonomy, giving municipalities the flexibility to decide what is best for their communities. This is a practical approach that allows towns and cities to weigh the benefits and drawbacks based on their unique circumstances. While charitable gaming may provide some community benefits, it also carries social costs, including potential gambling addiction and financial hardship for vulnerable individuals. Ensuring that these facilities contribute more substantially through taxation helps mitigate these costs and supports the broader public good. I urge the committee to support HB 688-FN-LOCAL as a sensible measure that promotes fiscal responsibility and community well-being. Thank you for your consideration.
I urge you to not eliminate funding for NH non-profits. They account for 14% of the states workers and many are struggling with funding cuts and increased costs. Many non-profits are filling in where government is lacking, ie, making sure folks have enough to eat, or shelter, or can afford higher education. Please don't make that any harder than it already is.
I urge you to oppose eliminating the charitable gaming funding for non-profits in NH. This funding has allowed many charities, several of which I’m personally involved in, to do far more good works in our community. For example, I am on the board of the Hollis Brookline Dollars for Scholar’s charity, and we have been able to greatly expand our scholarship program due to the proceeds from charitable gaming. We went from typically 2-4 scholarships of $1000 each to 6-10 scholarships of $3000 - $5000 each solely because of the revenue we received through the charitable gaming funding for non-profits. This has allowed many more students to be helped by our charity, and our mission would be thwarted without it. Please oppose any cuts or monetary limits for the funds, as this is helping a huge number of Granite Staters in myriad ways. Thank you.
I urge you to oppose eliminating the charitable gaming funding for non-profits in NH. This funding has allowed many charities, several of which I’m personally involved in, to do far more good works in our community. For example, I am on the board of the Hollis Brookline Dollars for Scholar’s charity, and we have been able to greatly expand our scholarship program due to the proceeds from charitable gaming. We went from typically 2-4 scholarships of $1000 each to 6-10 scholarships of $3000 - $5000 each, solely because of the revenue we received through the charitable gaming funding for non-profits. This has allowed many more students to be helped by our charity, and our mission would be thwarted without it. Please oppose any cuts or monetary limits for the funds, as this is helping a huge number of Granite Staters in myriad ways. Thank you.
February 3rd, 2025 Dear Committee Members, The Samantha C. Smith Foundation was created to make something good out of a really bad situation after the passing of my sister, Samantha in July 2004. With the generosity of charitable gaming with The Poker Room and now The Brook, Samantha’s Fund has been able to grant over $300,000 for Educational and Youth Hockey Scholarships. The year 2024 we granted $52,000 in scholarships. For 2025 scholarships will total $69,000 and by year 2027 The Samantha C. Smith Foundation will be granting $125,000 per year Samantha’s Foundation has multiple scholarships in Samantha’s name: $10,000 scholarship at each of Pinkerton Academy and Londonderry High School for students who are going into the trades and or medical fields of study. The Brook Educational Scholarship is $5,000 and on Samantha’s website the essay winners of first, second and third place receive $10,000, $7,000 and $5,000 per year for up to four years respectively. The only way we have been able to increase the scholarship funds has been from the proceeds from our casino partner The Brook. Please reject HB 531 and HB 688 which will greatly impact our fundraising with the Brook and will lessen our scholarship plans in the future. May Samantha’s Spirit Live On Blake Smith Brother of Samantha C. Smith blanigansmith1@gmail.com
February 3rd, 2025 Dear Committee Members, The Samantha C. Smith Foundation was created to make something good out of a really bad situation after the passing of my daughter, Samantha in July 2004. With the generosity of charitable gaming with The Poker Room and now The Brook, Samantha’s Fund has been able to grant over $300,000 for Educational and Youth Hockey Scholarships. The year 2024 we granted $52,000 in scholarships. For 2025 scholarships will total $69,000 and by year 2027 The Samantha C. Smith Foundation will be granting $125,000 per year Samantha’s Foundation has multiple scholarships in Samantha’s name: $10,000 scholarship at each of Pinkerton Academy and Londonderry High School for students who are going into the trades and or medical fields of study. The Brook Educational Scholarship is $5,000 and on Samantha’s website the essay winners of first, second and third place receive $10,000, $7,000 and $5,000 per year for up to four years respectively. The only way we have been able to increase the scholarship funds has been from the proceeds from our casino partner The Brook. Please reject HB 531 and HB 688 which will greatly impact our fundraising with the Brook and will lessen our scholarship plans in the future. May Samantha’s Spirit Live On, Kim E. Lanigan-Smith Board Member of SCS Charitable Foundation info@scsfund.org
Charitable gaming proceeds are necessary revenue for hundreds of New Hampshire's nonprofit organizations. Please kill this bill so our NH nonprofits can continue to do the good work of caring for the people of New Hampshire.
NH nonprofits save lives every day. Limiting their donations will not only cost tax payers more in the long-run, but it is inhumane to cut services to communities in need this severely. Casinos should have the freedom to donate however much they would like to any nonprofit they'd like as many times as they'd like.
Very bad impact for the need in NH. Do NOT do this.
Very unfair to NH non-profits. This is a bad idea for those people in need in our state. Stop!
This would be a terrible thing to do to the non-profits in NH and would have a significant impact on their ability to deliver services to those that are most in need. The lottery does not need this $$$ they are already very well self funded. It does not need to be used for political pork!
I oppose passage of this bill which adversely limits the distribution of profits to charitable organizations.
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