The casino gambling industry in the Northeast has been evolving at a rapid pace over the past couple of years, and this morning, New Hampshire lawmakers are considering whether to throw their state into the mix. The House Ways and Means Committee are taking up a gambling expansion bill with the hope of reconciling the legislation.

There are several different versions of a gaming bill that would bring four new casinos to New Hampshire if approved. The versions all vary slightly from one another, and legislators were hoping that by the end of the day, the committee would iron out the differences in the proposals and prepare to bring a finalized version to the full House for a discussion and a vote.

The bill has an uphill climb if it is going to pass in New Hampshire. Governor John Lynch is on record saying he would veto any gaming expansion bill. In order to override Lynch's potential veto, the House would have to pass the bill with a two-thirds majority. That is a tall order for a chamber that has never voted in favor of a casino gambling bill in the past.

New Hampshire is running out of time to complete gambling legislation if they want to stay competitive in the market. Massachusetts lawmakers finally passed their version of gambling expansion earlier this year, and several New Hampshire lawmakers have expressed their desire to have casinos up and running before Massachusetts.

It is likely that whichever state wins the race to casinos will receive a large portion of their gaming revenue from residents of the other state. Massachusetts is already behind states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Maine when it comes to the gaming industry. New Jersey is in the process of reviving their AC casino industry, making it even tougher on new states to enter the market.

"As much as I would love to see casinos here," said New Hampshire resident Butch Rahwley. "I just don't think it's going to happen anytime soon. The governor is strongly against casinos, and I would think that the other lawmakers would need the support of the governor to get a bill on a controversial issue passed."

Supporters of the bill are stressing urgency with the gaming industry growing at a record pace on the East Coast. Those against the legislation believe more time is needed to fully conduct a study on the impact the gambling expansion would have on the state.