DraftKings has launched New Hampshire’s first land-based sportsbook.
The daily fantasy sports provider turned sports betting giant, DraftKings, has launched New Hampshire’s first land-based sportsbook in partnership with the state lottery and the Eureka Casino-owned venue, The Brook.
The DraftKings sportsbook
The DraftKings-branded sportsbook features betting kiosks, video walls and is located within the Brook’s Stadium sports entertainment space. This space also features three cinema screens and hundreds of individual TVs.
To ensure the health and safety of patrons during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the sportsbook is being launched with enhanced safety and sanitization protocols.
Patrons will be required to wear masks at all times while in the venue, social distancing will be enforced, and hand sanitizer stations will be installed in seating areas on the gaming floor. These measures may be updated or changed based on consultation with public health officials and regulators.
DraftKings chief business officer, Ezra Kucharz said: “DraftKings is a customer-first company that looks at the many ways fans engage with sports. Our valued collaboration with The Brook and the New Hampshire Lottery will bring an immersive and entertaining in-person sports betting experience to fans in New Hampshire.”
The Brook chief executive Andre Carrier said: “We are proud to collaborate with the New Hampshire Lottery and DraftKings to open New Hampshire’s first retail sportsbook.”
The venue is owned by the Nevada-based Eureka Casino, which operates two properties in Mesquite and another in Las Vegas. The company acquired The Brook in January 2019 and rebranded the venue formerly known as Seabrook Park.
“We built The Stadium at The Brook to be the best place to watch sports anywhere in New England,” Carrier added. “Unless you’re at the game, we feel that there’s no better place. Our new sportsbook will offer sports fans throughout the region a state-of-the-art, dynamic betting experience.”
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu said: “With major sports resuming in recent weeks, I am extremely pleased The Brook is opening its new retail sportsbook. This retail sportsbook represents the next evolution for the New Hampshire Lottery and DraftKings, which have already established New Hampshire as the go-to destination for sports betting in the Northeast.
“Along with placing bets online and with their mobile devices, sports fans now have an exciting new retail location where they can place bets on their favourite teams and experience this new way to win.”
Sports betting in New Hampshire
In July 2019, New Hampshire became the second New England state to legalize sports betting. Land-based, online and mobile sports betting is legal under the state’s law which allows the New Hampshire Lottery to award licenses to 10 land-based venues and five online and mobile sportsbooks.
At the end of November, DraftKings was awarded an exclusive contract to offer sports betting after being selected through a competitive bidding process.
Under the agreement with the state lottery, New Hampshire will receive 50% of the operator’s sports betting revenue. This will help support the Lottery’s mission to generate funds for education in the Granite State.
Mobile sports betting, via the DraftKings app, launched in New Hampshire on 30 December 2019, and in February the state lottery revealed that players had wagered $28.6m and placed more than 1m bets.
DraftKings has committed to opening up to four land-based sportsbooks in the state.
New Hampshire Lottery executive director Charlie McIntyre said: “The New Hampshire Lottery is excited to be working with The Brook and DraftKings to open New Hampshire’s first retail sportsbook, further establishing New Hampshire as a premier sports betting destination in the northeast.
“With more than 42,000 registered NH users, mobile sports betting is already attracting a new generation of players to the New Hampshire Lottery. The addition of The Brook’s retail sportsbook will only further support our efforts to maximize revenue for education in New Hampshire.”
