New Hampshire Senate passes gambling ban bill

The legislators main concern in many of the establishments carrying these machines is that revenue is being stolen away from regulated casinos. The Senate wants to ensure that the gamblers spend their money at state authorized casinos.

The bill that was passed in the Senate was a result of a modified bill in the Ways and Means Committee. The bill was originally going to exclude sweepstakes games, but when it was modified it became an all-encompassing piece of legislation to ensure only regulated casinos could offer slot machines.

"The definition tried to encompass gambling machines that are used in sweepstakes," said Senator Bob Odell. "They are competing as gambling outfits without any regulation. This is competing with legitimate, regulated, licensed gaming."

Internet cafes have become a popular business for many Americans. The cafes offer customers the opportunity to buy time on a credit card-type card, and then the cards can be inserted into computers where gamblers can choose to play slot-like games for prizes. Cash prizes are prohibited in many states.

In New Hampshire, business owners have installed slot-type machines in their bars and restaurants. The machines are a part of a growing problem of gamblers spending their money in unregulated gaming locations.

"It's very dangerous to have unmonitored, unregulated games of chance," said Representative George Lambert, who is sponsoring the House version of the Senate bill. "You don't know whether or not the games are fair. When you have regulation, there's a set of rules and the random number generators are neutral."

Governor John Lynch has been a gambling proponent, but sponsors of the House and Senate bill prohibiting gaming machines believe the governor will sign the legislation banning the machines.