The Ways and Means Committee passed this casino bill as soon as the public testimony ended, but the full Senate is expected to slow things down by tabling the bill until the House considers a proposal allowing one casino with a beefed up regulatory scheme.
Prior to voting in favor of the senate plan, Derry Republican Jim Rausch observed what’s obvious to anyone who’s watched N.H.’s casino debate: without movement in the House gambling goes nowhere.
"I believe a big effort on the part of the house of representatives in the state of N.H., is critical to the success of any expansion of gaming legislation."
The House has never passed a casino bill and killed the one casino proposal backed last year by the senate and Governor Maggie Hassan.
Hassan says she still favors a one casino approach and is focusing her efforts on the plan in the house.
No hearing date has been set on that bill.
