HB 591-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
05/01/2025 1628s
2025 SESSION
25-0772
02/11
HOUSE BILL 591-FN
AN ACT relative to hours for keno gaming.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cole, Hills. 26; Rep. Ouellet, Coos 3; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42; Rep. Ball, Rock. 25
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill expands permitted keno hours of operation.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/01/2025 1628s 25-0772
02/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to hours for keno gaming.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Operation of Keno Games. Amend RSA 284:47, I to read as follows:
I. A licensee may operate keno games at its business during the business' hours of operation [between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 a.m].
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0772
5/19/25
HB 591-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2025-1628s)
AN ACT expanding hours for keno gaming on weekends.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $1,303,874 | $2,607,748 | $2,607,748 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | Lottery Fund/Education Trust Fund - Lottery revenue is credited to the lottery fund, with net revenues after expenditures being credited to the state education trust fund. | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill expands permitted keno hours of operation. The Lottery Commission indicates this bill expands the allowed time frame for operation of Keno games, currently daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., by further allowing operation whenever licensees are open for business. As some licensees are open 24 hours a day, this bill would allow for 24 hour operation of Keno.
The Lottery Commission makes the following assumptions regarding the fiscal impact of the bill:
- It will take the Commission and its system vendor approximately 6 months to develop the system change, test it, and execute the system release. This is due to several large-scale system changes and implementations already mapped out thru the end of CY 2025.
- The Commission anticipates most new sales would result from bar and tavern Keno players that purchase multi-draw tickets at establishments open past 1 a.m., as well as early morning Keno players that purchase tickets at convenience stores and grocery stores in the municipalities that offer Keno.
- Each licensee sets their own hours of operation, so while it is hard to make a granular estimate, the Lottery assumes the additional 10 hours per day would increase annual sales by about 18% once implemented.
- FY 2024 Keno sales were about $56,690,196. There are 61,320 draws per fiscal year, resulting in average sales per draw of $924.
- Added hours of operation will increase sales at bars and taverns that remain open after 1 a.m. and convenience and grocery stores that open before 11 a.m.
- With the additional draws, the Lottery anticipates additional sales of $10,123,249, or an 18% increase in topline sales.
The Lottery Commission provided the following breakdown of costs and amount anticipated to the Education Trust Fund on a fiscal year basis:
| FY 2026 (Assuming 01/01/26 Start) | FY 2027 and Beyond |
Total Fiscal Year Sales for Additional a.m. Draws | $5,061,625 | $10,123,249 |
Licensee Commission (8%) | ($404,930) | ($809,860) |
Amount to the State | $4,656,695 | $9,313,389 |
Less: Lottery Administrative Costs (2%) | ($93,134) | ($186,268) |
Less: Prize Payouts (70%) | ($3,259,687) | ($6,519,373) |
Net Education Trust Fund Revenue | $1,303,874 | $2,607,748 |
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Lottery Commission