Operator News
US – DraftKings wins sportsbetting tender in New Hampshire
By Phil - 4 November 2019
The New Hampshire Lottery has selected DraftKings to offer sports betting in New Hampshire once sports betting launches at the start of next year.
The New Hampshire Lottery issued a sports betting request for proposals (RFP) in August 2019 and received 13 proposals in response. Scoring highest in the tender competition, 810 out of 1,000, DraftKings, in conjunction with Crown Gaming, will be given the licence to operate both the mobile and retail operations in the state, with Intralot winning the lottery component.
“DraftKings is proud to be selected to offer mobile and retail sports betting in New Hampshire,” DraftKings said in a statement. “We look forward to soon providing sports fans in the Granite State with our best-in-class mobile and online Sportsbook product, and welcoming them into our dynamic retail sportsbooks. DraftKings will continue to collaborate closely with the New Hampshire Lottery Commission towards our mutual goal of bringing fun, safe and responsible sports betting to New Hampshire.”
Maura McCann, Marketing Director of New Hampshire Lottery, added: “Sports betting represents a major next step in the New Hampshire Lottery’s evolution, and given its significance, we are pleased with the overall quality of the proposals we received. We look forward to continuing the RFP process and to ultimately implementing a sports betting system that supports continued revenue growth, while also incorporating all necessary safeguards and protections for our players and retailers.”
Voters from nine New Hampshire cities will vote tomorrow on whether to permit the operation of physical sports book retail locations within their communities during city elections next week. The following cities will vote Tuesday, November 5: Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Dover, Laconia, Manchester, Nashua, Rochester and Somersworth.
“We have been working directly with city leaders and residents in recent months to ensure they have all the information they need regarding sports betting implementation,” said Charlie McIntyre, executive director, New Hampshire Lottery. “We are pleased to see this response from cities across the state interested in putting this sports betting question before voters. We look forward to continuing to be a resource for community leaders as we launch a successful and responsible sports betting system in New Hampshire.”
The New Hampshire Lottery expects to approve final contracts by the end of November 2019.
Governor Chris Sununu signed legislation in July authorising the New Hampshire Lottery to conduct sports betting, which will be allowed through as many as 10 physical sports book locations and as many as five online sports books. Franklin voters already approved their city as a potential location for sports book retail locations during city elections Tuesday, October 1.
The sports betting legislation was written to provide individual communities across the state with the option to put the question to voters as to whether to permit the operation of sports book retail locations within their communities. New Hampshire towns will be able to place the question on their Town Meeting warrants in spring 2020.
The sports betting legislation, which creates a Division of Sports Wagering within the New Hampshire Lottery to oversee sports betting, allows for mobile wagering and prohibits any wagering on New Hampshire college teams or any college games taking place in the Granite State. Players must be 18 or older to make wagers.
