Rochester moving closer to vote on sportsbook casino in city: Here's what to expect
ROCHESTER — DraftKings Sportsbook sports gambling venues and charitable gaming casinos are already located in Dover, Manchester and Seabrook. Rochester could become one of the next locations in New Hampshire, but city residents would have to approve.
Rochester's City Council, during its Tuesday, Aug. 1 meeting, will discuss putting the question of whether to allow a sportsbook location in the city on the ballot for voters in the municipal election to be held Nov. 7.
Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan said "there is a strong possibility we will decide to put this to our voters." He pointed out the City Council on June 6 passed a gaming ordinance that defines where in the city a charitable gaming facility could be located and sets parameters.
It would not be the first time the question of allowing a sportsbook casino was put to Rochester voters. In November 2019, it was narrowly rejected with a vote of 1,488-1,439 against it.
If the question makes it to the November ballot in 2023 and city voters approve, it's still not guaranteed a casino would open in Rochester. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission would have to select Rochester, according to officials.
A state law (RSA 287-I:5) authorized the creation of no more than 10 retail sports wagering locations throughout the state inside charitable gaming facilities. New Hampshire's current locations for DraftKings Sportsbooks are The Brook casino in Seabrook and the Filotomo Casino and Restaurants at the Dover Bowl complex and in Manchester.
What would a sportsbook casino look like in Rochester?
Rochester's new gaming ordinance notes New Hampshire sportsbook locations must be located in a charitable gaming facility. It also says the location would be permitted only in the city's highway commercial zone, which includes routes 11 and 125, or the Granite Ridge zone. An additional conditional use permit would be required if a casino were to be located at The Ridge shopping plaza, where an adjacent second large development project is proposed.
The Rochester gaming ordinance also states a sportsbook casino would have to include a gaming floor of at least 20,000 square feet, not including space for accounting, maintenance, surveillance, security, administrative offices, storage, cash or cash counting and records. It also states the parking design must include space for bus parking and bus loading, as well as at least 0.75 parking spaces per gaming position in the casino. Additionally, at least 2% of parking spaces must have electric vehicle charging stations with at least four per site. There are also standards for outdoor entertainment noise, architecture and landscaping.
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Callaghan said city leaders have met with the Charlie McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, and they feel pretty comfortable with what it could mean for the city.
"We could be looking at casino-type tables, games of chance," Callaghan said. "They all need to be associated with a charitable gaming facility, so we will look at that. The entire process is strictly regulated by the lottery commission so there is very good guidance."
DraftKings has been contracted by the state Lottery Commission to manage both the online and retail sports wagering operations in New Hampshire.
What is the process that could bring the sportsbook question to voters in Rochester?
Tuesday's City Council meeting is a first hearing. This could lead to a City Council vote in September to put the question on the November ballot, according to Callaghan.
If that happens, a public hearing would be held in October, ahead of the election.
More NH communities are considering adding sportsbook gambling
Maura McCann, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, pointed out all three current sportsbook locations in the state are co-located with facilities for games of chance, such as blackjack and bingo.
"They are good choices because they already have the security and personnel in place to operate the facilities," she said.
McCann said 16 towns and cities have applied for retail sports betting facilities.
Rochester council to discuss community outreach position
Also on Tuesday's council agenda is a request to use $262,000 of Rochester's federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for the city's community outreach position. The new position was funded last year, also through ARPA funds, with Erin Nasino hired to fill the role.
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"This will fund the position, in decreasing allocations through 2027," Callaghan said. "It is for salary, benefits and other costs of the position."
Callaghan said, if approved by the council, this year will be fully funded. The second year would be funded at 75% by federal dollars and 25% by the city, going to 50-50 in the third year, and the fourth year would be 25% federal funds and 75% city funds.
"Each year will go through the budget," Callaghan said. "The years going forward would be fully funded by the city as with other municipal positions."
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rochester NH could vote on DraftKings sportsbook casino in city
