Mass. Officials Raise Concerns Over New Hampshire Casino Proposal

City officials in Lawrence, Massachusetts are upset with a recent casino proposal in nearby New Hampshire.

Lawrence city councilors believe that a casino project at Rockingham Mall in Salem, New Hampshire will target low-income individuals in nearby areas. That’s despite Massachusetts being home to a variety of legal sportsbooks and in-person casinos.

The casino proposal was approved via a 5-2 vote two weeks ago, tying the idea to the planned site at Rockingham Mall.

Why the opposition?

The New Hampshire casino project will erect a facility with 1,340 gaming stations among a variety of amenities. It would be just about 15 minutes away from Lawrence and just about half of that from the border between the neighboring states.

The Planning Board in Salem gave final approval for the project and used permits for a “charitable gaming” facility where a Lord & Taylor store currently exists.

"[T]he business model for the proposed Rockingham Mall casino relies heavily on targeting the financial desperation of Lawrence's low-income workers, elderly, and disabled, many of whom will be lured with free bets and other incentives to drive to the casino four to five times a week,” said Lawrence city council’s resolution said.

“Life-changing addiction causes the kind of human misery like very few things can including significant increases in rates of personal bankruptcy, divorce, domestic violence and, gambling addiction has the highest rate of suicide of any addiction.

Lawrence officials also noted that the city is the “poorest in Massachusetts” with an average household income of less than $54,000, according to numbers from 2022.

Do the risks outweigh the rewards?

Ironically, one of Lawrence officials’ key arguments is that a casino would exacerbate many issues that New Hampshire residents already attribute to residents of Lawrence, including an influx of drug use and addiction, sex trafficking, and poverty.

They believe that a nearby gambling option would convince many Massachusetts residents to cross the border into New Hampshire purely to gamble at the new casino.

The project is headed by the Lupoli Companies, a large Massachusetts-based development company, The Cordish Companies, another development company, its Live! Casino brand, and Joe Faro, the man responsible for the Tuscan Brands and the Tuscan Village that is adjacent to the proposed site for the project.

Lupoli is already in good standing in the area because it completed projected and community work in Lawrence.

The developers estimated that the casino, tentatively known as “Live! Casino Salem,” would cost $160 million. Attractions would include more than 900 historical horse racing machines, at least 40 table games, a sports lounge, a golf simulator, an event space, a bar, restaurants, and more.

Estimates suggest that it would create $128 million in annual economic stimulus and 700 permanent jobs, according to a proposal submitted to Salem officials.