Legislation to bring slot machines to the state is back, and it asks for thousands more machines than last year's proposal.
A bill filed by Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, asks for licenses for six slot machine venues in the state. It calls for licenses to be made available to Rockingham Park, the state's two dog tracks, two undetermined venues in the North Country, and one resort development in Hillsborough County.
A maximum of 17,000 machines could be installed in the state under the proposed legislation. A similar proposal sponsored by D'Allesandro last year called for a total of 13,000 machines.
This year's version of slot legislation fuses D'Allesandro's bill from last year, which asked for slots only at the state's parimutuel locations and two more in the North Country, with a bill proposed in the House that asked for slots to be allowed for a resort casino development in Hudson.
Bringing slots to the state would generate thousands of jobs in Southern New Hampshire, jobs that are badly needed, D'Allesandro said yesterday.
"The climate has become more conducive because of the need and demand for jobs," D'Allesandro said. "This is a jobs bill; it's all about jobs."
He estimated about 1,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs would be created in the southern tier of the state if the proposal becomes law.
D'Allesandro said the resort development in Hudson was added to the bill because officials and individuals from that area have made strong indications they want a resort casino there.
He said he doesn't believe having a casino in Hudson and slot machines at Rockingham Park would be too much gambling development in the area.
"We're talking about two different audiences in terms of players," he said.
The maximum number of machines the bill allows is more than Connecticut's casinos — Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods — combined. Those two resorts combine for just under 14,000 slot machines.
Jim Rubens, chairman of the Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling, said the bill would make New Hampshire a "casino empire state."
"They've decided the only way to get the bill passed is to give everyone a casino," Rubens said. "It's just absurd."
Last year, D'Allesandro's legislation ended up in a version of the state's budget that was approved by the Senate before being taken out by a joint legislative committee before being voted on in the House.
Sen. Michael Downing, R-Salem, a cosponsor of this year's bill, said it was too early to say how far slot machine legislation would go this year.
"Time will tell," Downing said yesterday. "We're still getting information as far as where we stand with the budget. Until we have a full picture, it will be tough to tell."
ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ
Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.
What's at Stake? A Community Forum on Expanded Gambling
Where: Mary Fisk Elementary School, 14 Main St., Salem
When: Saturday, Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This is a public forum, but registration in advance is required. To register, visit whatsatstake.unh.edu, or call 877-338-5322.
