Gov. Hassan: Market May Not Exist For 2 Casinos in NH

Gov. Maggie Hassan says she doesn't think a market exists for two casinos in New Hampshire, as proposed in a bill that has passed the Senate and is now before the House.

Hassan, a Democrat, strongly supports bringing one casino into New Hampshire as a new source of non-tax revenue. The House has never passed casino gambling, but on Tuesday a key House committee endorsed the two-casino proposal.

Hassan is not saying she would veto the two-casino bill. She says she'll need to better understand how a second casino would be established before making a decision.

Democratic Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, the bill's prime sponsor, says there is "ample justification" for authorizing two casinos and that the bill allows for a market-driven approach in licensing both.