Legal Poker For New Hampshire Residents
Although a gambling friendly state, New Hampshire has not yet legalized online poker and considers home poker games to be illegal. Residents can play legal games of poker at state-licensed gambling facilities; besides, charity poker tournaments are also legal.
This page shares expert advice regarding the legality of playing online poker games for real money. Besides giving residents the required knowledge regarding gambling, we have also presented a comprehensive list of legal poker sites for New Hampshire residents.
New Hampshire Poker Laws & Statutes
The first US state to launch a lottery game was New Hampshire. Quite friendly toward gambling, New Hampshire has regulated several forms of gambling and deals harshly with unlicensed gambling facilities in its jurisdiction.
According to Section647.2(II)(d), gambling is defined as risking something valuable on the results of something not under one’s control on the understanding that one will receive something valuable in case of a certain result. Anybody who permits gambling in a place that they own, themselves gamble, help others to gamble, or own a gambling device or manage a gambling business is guilty of a misdemeanor. A gambling business will be considered guilty of felony if it rakes in gambling revenues of over $2000 per day, operates for 10 days continuously, or accepts bets worth more than $5000 in a 30-day period.
New Hampshire does not permit any form of social gambling, owing to which it could be considered illegal for residents to enjoy a game of poker in private.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire’s gambling laws lack any provision that makes a mention of online poker. Since players cannot break laws that do not exist, one can safely conclude that it is safe and legal for residents to play real money online poker at offshore online poker rooms. So far, the state has not prosecuted any resident for playing real money poker at offshore poker sites.
In the absence of a proper legal and regulatory framework for online poker, New Hampshire is in no position to authorize or license companies to run online poker businesses in its jurisdiction. If players come across any online poker room that claims to be licensed in New Hampshire, they must bring it to the notice of the authorities and avoid playing at that online poker room. The safest way for New Hampshire residents to play online poker for real money is to so at the offshore online poker rooms we have recommended on this page.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker New Hampshire?
As a resident of New Hampshire, you will never get into trouble for playing real money poker in New Hampshire. Although New Hampshire does not license any operator to run online poker businesses, a number of offshore poker sites, licensed in remote gambling jurisdictions and based in foreign countries, accept New Hampshire residents. The state has absolutely no laws preventing residents from registering at these sites. Besides, it cannot penalize offshore online poker rooms for accepting New Hampshire residents.
Players will, therefore, not get into trouble for playing real money poker at offshore online poker rooms. However, operators and individuals will get into trouble if they try to run online poker businesses without a license in New Hampshire.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept New Hampshire Players
New Hampshire has one of the fastest growing poker scenes in the New England area. Many residents are under the false assumption that online poker is illegal in New Hampshire, but a quick visit to any of the stellar sites listed below will quickly fix that error and set new users on the path to greatness.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For New Hampshire
A great site for any beginner, Bovada not only is easy to use and access for new poker players, it makes sure to offer plenty in the way of guaranteed tournaments so new players and veterans alike stand to win a whole lot of money. Any worries about the legality of Bovada poker should be washed away when one sees that they are sponsored not only by USA today but also CBS. Truly, Bovada is one of the most trusted sites for legal online poker on the web.
Poker players like trust, but they especially like money and this legal online poker room has got plenty of it for avid players. Most sites promise guaranteed tournaments frequently, Bovada promises them every day, multiple times a day. One can never have too many tournaments so the legal poker site not only offers the daily tournaments throughout the week but they also host the grand finale of all tournaments every Sunday with their $100,000 dollar guaranteed tournament. Truly poker fans can find no better site for making money than Bovada.
SportsBetting Poker - All New Hampshire Players 18+ Welcome Here
Many people hear about SportsBetting but they haven’t really ever checked them out. SportsBetting is like the whisper in the wind that promises grand treasures to those willing to follow. While they pass under the radar of many new poker players they have certainly earned the attention of an elite clientele that recognizes the high level of play they offer. Any new poker player looking to up their game and really go toe to toe with the top players in the world should go to SportsBetting.
Immediately one of the things that really sets this legal online poker room apart is the fact that they have multiple tables to accommodate players of all kinds. The SportsBetting Poker room offers cash games and guaranteed tournaments all day long. Players will be pleased to find that they offer multiple tournaments with limits of various amounts so every player can find a game or tournament for them. The most popular of their poker rooms though is the shark tank, so called because it is frequented by the biggest names in U.S. online poker. These players are the best of the best and they will tear apart any new player who isn’t ready for the fast paced world of online poker. Poker players from around the world come to the shark tank to win money and challenge the best players out there.
| Legal New Hampshire Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does New Hampshire Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
New Hampshire residents can play real money poker at state-licensed gambling facilities such as Hinsdale Greyhound Park, Lakes Region Greyhound Park, Rochester Fair, Rochingham Park Race Track, and Seabrook Greyhound Park. Another legal way to play live poker for real money is by taking part in a charity poker tournament.
Players longing for the thrills and adventures of playing multi-table poker tournaments and lucrative cash games must sign up at a New Hampshire friendly online poker room. As previously mentioned, it isn’t against state or federal laws for players to play real money poker at offshore online poker rooms. The online poker rooms we have mentioned on this page not only accept New Hampshire residents, but also welcome them with grand bonuses and give away attractive rewards for loyalty.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For New Hampshire Players
There aren’t many legal poker gaming options in New Hampshire. Home poker games are out of the question because social gambling is frowned upon in New Hampshire. However, some charitable organizations are permitted to run charity poker tournaments to raise funds for worthy causes, and it is perfectly legal for New Hampshire residents to take part in charity poker games. New Hampshire residents can also play real money poker legally at certain state-licensed gambling facilities.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire has experimented a bit with online gambling bills. In 2010, it made an unsuccessful attempt to legalize online lottery games. At around the same time, John Lynch, governor of New Hampshire, announced that he was in support of intrastate online gambling. While this appears to indicate that the state is not against the idea of intrastate online poker legalization, it cannot be denied that New Hampshire lawmakers are not that enthusiastic about it.
Online poker legalization does not have much of a chance in New Hampshire not only because of the lackadaisical attitude of lawmakers, but also because no major gambling business is based in New Hampshire. The state could legalize online poker if it wants to because of the liberal attitude its residents have towards gambling.
