Statement from Governor Hassan on Casino Study

Statement

Governor Maggie Hassan released the following statement today in response to the study by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies on the benefits of a high-end casino in New Hampshire:

"Today's report reinforces that one high-end, highly regulated casino can generate a licensing fee of $80 million dollars or more for the next budget that will help New Hampshire invest in priorities that are critical for building a more innovative economic future. The report also emphasizes that a high-end casino with a significant capital investment will generate thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars a year in revenue to the state.

"And while the study appropriately notes the impact of social costs, it fails to recognize that with gambling already taking place in our communities and with Massachusetts moving forward with casinos, costs will be felt with or without a New Hampshire casino. The study also fails to recognize other benefits of a high-end casino in the form of local and state tax revenues and economic development opportunities.

"Moving forward with a New Hampshire plan will allow us to invest in the priorities that are critical to an innovative economy and fund programs to address on-going social costs, and I will continue working with the legislature to finalize legislation for one high-end casino that can help strengthen our state's economy while protecting our brand as a family-friendly state with a great outdoor economy. The true risk we all face is the risk of letting our economy fall behind and allowing the good jobs and growing businesses of the innovation economy to develop elsewhere. We must take action and lead the way to build a stronger, more innovative New Hampshire."

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