Amy Manzelli is an attorney with BCM Environmental & Land Law, PLLC in Concord and will serve on the board of directors of Granite Staters for Responsible Gaming.

Granite Staters may have noticed some major changes to their local malls over the past couple of years.

Driving along South Willow Street in Manchester, it is hard to miss the freshly-renamed Revo Casino & Social House, one of five chain locations sprinkled across the state. Just a few days ago, the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua welcomed a massive new business in the former Sears, the Nash Casino, the largest of its kind in the state.

Not to be outdone is its major competitor, claiming a large expansion is forthcoming to reclaim that title: The Brook casino is tucked away off Rt. 107 in Seabrook. As of writing, there are fourteen operational casinos in New Hampshire with four others in varying stages of development limbo. Several others have promised expansions and there is little the state or hosting communities can do to stop them.

What is spurring the explosion of casinos in the Granite State? One major factor is the proliferation of historic horse racing machines, which began appearing in gambling facilities in 2023. In most respects, these are indistinguishable from slot machines but simply base their winning odds on race results from decades of races logged in their systems. But normal slot machines, which can run faster and have odds manipulated by the casinos themselves, may not be too far away.

During interviews last month, Gov. Ayotte promised the legalization of traditional slot machines as the primary means to fund retirement pensions for first responders. Sure enough, the language to do so was snuck into the massive “trailer bill,” HB 2, that follows the state budget, HB 1, just this month. Granite Staters are smarter than this, however, and the blatant pork was soon caught by several news publications and local journalists.

Let us be clear. Slot machines are designed for one thing: to keep you playing, no matter the cost. They are a masterclass in psychological manipulation and are carefully engineered to exploit the human brain’s reward system, making them one of the most addictive forms of gambling.

Unlike traditional table games, which require skill and strategy, slot machines operate on pure chance, yet they give players the illusion of control. Pressing a button or pulling a lever makes it feel as though you’re actively participating, but the outcome is entirely determined by a random number generator. Casinos further encourage this illusion by designing near-wins, where the reels stop just short of a jackpot, triggering a rush of excitement that keeps players hooked.

The same psychological principles behind social media addiction play a major role in slots’ appeal. Wins are unpredictable, which means the brain releases dopamine, the pleasure chemical, every time there’s even a small reward. This unpredictability keeps players engaged, constantly chasing the next hit. The longer someone plays, the deeper they fall into what researchers call the “zone,” a trance-like state where time, money and reality fade away.

Adding to the danger, modern slot machines are built for speed. Unlike the mechanical one-armed bandits of the past, today’s digital slots allow for rapid-fire play, with players able to place hundreds of bets per hour. The faster the game, the quicker the losses mount. And when the inevitable losing streak comes, casinos offer free drinks and complimentary perks to keep players in their seats, numbing their sense of financial loss.

The consequences of this addiction are devastating. Studies have shown that slot machines are the most common cause of gambling addiction, leading to financial ruin, strained relationships and mental health struggles. Unlike other forms of gambling, where players might cash out after a big win, slot machine addicts often reinvest their winnings immediately, unable to walk away.

Despite these risks, regulation remains lax. New licenses for historic horse racing machines were rightly put on ice through a moratorium last year, but the legalization of slot machines would make historic horse racing obsolete and the moratorium effectively null and void.

This moratorium is the strongestform of control the state has exercised on the casino industry. Any further attempts – including a bill that would have given more local control through requiring town-wide votes to “opt-in” allowing casinos in their community – have failed. Given the risk slot machines represent in further worsening the runaway gambling train in New Hampshire, would it not make sense to give Granite Staters the right to at least choose whether to allow slot machines in their community?

We cherish local control in New Hampshire. Giving us the vote on allowing slots is the least the state could do.

The addictive nature of slot machines is no accident. And until regulators take a stronger stance, thousands will continue to chase a jackpot that, for most, will never come.