Salem, New Hampshire, recently approved a new “charitable” gaming facility despite concerns from the neighboring community of Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Located just over the New Hampshire state line, the city of Lawrence is the poorest in the state, and community leaders fear that a new casino-style gaming facility could lead to addiction and further poverty. Despite the concerns and the city asking Salem to reconsider, the state plans to proceed with the project.

On November 26th, the Salem Planning Board voted 5-2 to approve the project slated for the old Lord & Taylor store at The Mall at Rockingham Park. The casino will offer 1,300+ jobs, multiple restaurants, and event space.

New Hampshire Gambling Laws

The state of New Hampshire does not allow commercial casino gaming; however, it does allow charitable gaming. Charitable gaming in the state consists of blackjack, poker, and roulette. While other casino staples such as slots and baccarat are not allowed, the exception for charitable gaming offers residents entertainment and the state additional revenue.

Despite not having full access to class III casino gaming options, the state has 14 charitable gaming facilities that pay 35% of its gross gaming revenues to local charities. Another 10% of revenue goes to the state to fund educational programs.

Lawrence Officials Speak Out

Stephany Infante, vice president of the Lawrence City Council, is concerned that a new casino just over the state line will target residents of Lawrence. She stated to media sources, “In Lawrence, we’re trying to tackle financial struggle, mental health issues, addiction, et cetera, and this is just going to add another component to those challenges.” She also expressed her concern that “People who are struggling financially, or with gambling, which is an addiction, that’s the clientele any casino targets.”

The Lawrence City Council sent a resolution to the Salem Planning Board claiming that Lawrence residents are a primary target for the new casino. Several Lawrence City residents are concerned that a 10-minute drive to a casino could facilitate further criminal activities tied to money laundering.

Are Online Casinos Legal In New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does not license or authorize online casinos within state lines. Despite the restrictions, offshore casinos have been accepting players from New Hampshire and Massachusetts since the late 1990s and have become the go-to option for many players.

Online casino sites offer players popular casino games such as slots, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, poker, sports betting, and more. They also offer bigger bonuses, traditional and non-traditional casino banking options, and more game variations, which makes it easy to see why many players gamble online.

The Week 14 Thursday Night Football matchup features a high-stakes NFL battle as the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. The game will take place on December 5, 2024, at 8:15 PM ET. This NFC North clash has significant playoff implications, as both the Lions and Packers are in the post-season hunt.

Below, we will examine several key aspects of the two teams and the NFL betting odds associated with the contest.

Overview

The Detroit Lions (11-1) are riding high as division leaders, while the Green Bay Packers (9-3) aim to bolster their playoff hopes. Detroit is seeking a season sweep after a 24-14 victory at Lambeau Field earlier this year.

Game Line Odds

Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
Spread: +3.5 (-115), -3.5 (-105)
Win: +160, -185
Total: O52.0 (EVEN), U52.0 (-120)

The over/under reflects optimism about a high-scoring affair, though both defenses will play pivotal roles.

Matchups

Jared Goff vs. Packers’ Secondary – Lions quarterback Jared Goff continues to shine, orchestrating an offense that ranks among the league’s best in efficiency. Green Bay’s secondary, led by standout Jaire Alexander, will aim to contain wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Jordan Love vs. Lions’ Injured Defense – With Detroit’s defense missing Malcolm Rodriguez and Mekhi Wingo, Love has an opportunity to exploit a weakened front. His connection with wideout Christian Watson will be crucial in moving the chains.

The Battle in the Trenches – The Lions boast one of the NFL’s premier offensive lines, while Green Bay relies on Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary to disrupt the run game and pressure Goff.

Game Prediction

The Lions are expected to win this game, as they did earlier in the season, extending their dominance in the NFC.

How To Bet On NFL Games

Offshore sports betting sites offer the most odds for NFL competitions with game lines, futures, and props for each contest. You can bet on NFL games after creating and funding your account.

Online sportsbooks offer several perks to entice players to take action, including bonus rewards, crypto deposits and withdrawals, and returning player reward programs. Once you set up your account, you can access numerous betting lines with the online sportsbook apps.

Carnival Cruise Line, an international tourism company, has faced scrutiny over the years. Still, one of the most notorious cases happened recently when a casino player went missing from the ship.

Shane Dixon went missing earlier this year after gambling in the casino on the P&O Cruises. The cruise set sail from Australia, where gambling laws are strict when it comes to excessive gambling practices. Authorities believe that Dixon jumped overboard after losing a substantial amount of money in the casino. Dixon had accumulated a $9,000 debit at the casino throughout two nights. This incident has raised serious legal questions about the casino’scasino’s practices and the potential liability of the cruise line.

A lawyer representing the Dixon family said that P&O Cruises incentivized patrons to gamble by offering credit, free alcohol, and additional cruise offers. These practices are illegal in Australia but are standard practices in international waters.

Casino Practices and Legal Scrutiny

The Carnival Cruise line has been criticized and faced legal action for certain practices within its onboard casinos, with allegations ranging from lack of transparency to concerns over gaming fairness. These legal challenges have put the company under significant scrutiny and could have far-reaching implications for the future of cruise ship casinos.

Complaints often center on unclear gaming rules and other practices that disadvantage players. These issues raise broader questions about regulatory oversight for casino operations in international waters and the legitimacy of cruise casinos.

Legality Of Offshore Casino Cruises

Due to international maritime laws, casinos operating on cruise ships often fall into a regulatory gray area. However, legal challenges suggest a growing push for stricter oversight to protect consumer interests. This underscores the need for transparency, fair odds, and straightforward terms in the industry.

Offshore casinos operating from trusted gaming jurisdictions are often scrutinized by regulatory agencies that test the games for fairness and ensure player protections are in place. The same could be implemented for casino cruises, but for now, the absence of a regulatory body is a cause for concern.

Are Cruise Ship Casinos Legit?

Cruise ship casinos do not have to be regulated by a trusted regulatory agency; Therefore, they are not considered legitimate. While some onboard casinos do opt to have regulation, others do not since they only operate in international waters.

Gambling incentives are another telltale sign that a casino lacks legitimacy. The practices that led to Shane Dixon’sDixon’s disappearance will have their day in court, and Carnival Cruise will likely try to settle out of court to avoid further legal challenges. This potential for legal action underscores the need for accountability in the industry.

The offshore casinos we review only operate online and are all regulated by a trusted governing body. Many games and substantial slot libraries host popular titles like Buffalo Run, A Night with Cleo, and many more online.