A recently opened New Hampshire casino could offer up a new challenge for Maine’s casino landscape.Members of Granite State Gaming and Hospitality joined Rochester city officials to cut the ribbon on the Lilac Club Casino.The casino was open to a select group of VIPs ahead of it opening to the public on Friday.Private and commercial gambling are currently illegal in New Hampshire. But the Lilac Club, like many other businesses in the state that consider themselves “casinos,” is able to operate as a charitable gaming business. “There’s a large percentage of the gross revenue that goes towards charities each day that we operate,” said Eric Barbaro, Chief Operating Officer for Granite State Gaming and Hospitality. In fact, there’s two charities per day.”In contrast, Maine is currently home to two commercial casinos: Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and the Oxford Casino Hotel. The Oxford in particular could see direct competition from the Lilac Club, as both businesses are located around the same distance from Portland, Maine’s most densely populated area.“We’re a little bit smaller, but I think we’re hopefully a better experience,” said casino owner Greg Carlin. “And so, I do think we’ll get a draw from the southern Maine area.” In February, both of Maine’s casinos generated $10 million in net revenue, a 27% drop from February 2024.
A recently opened New Hampshire casino could offer up a new challenge for Maine’s casino landscape.
Members of Granite State Gaming and Hospitality joined Rochester city officials to cut the ribbon on the Lilac Club Casino.
The casino was open to a select group of VIPs ahead of it opening to the public on Friday.
Private and commercial gambling are currently illegal in New Hampshire. But the Lilac Club, like many other businesses in the state that consider themselves “casinos,” is able to operate as a charitable gaming business.
“There’s a large percentage of the gross revenue that goes towards charities each day that we operate,” said Eric Barbaro, Chief Operating Officer for Granite State Gaming and Hospitality. “In fact, there’s two charities per day.”
In contrast, Maine is currently home to two commercial casinos: Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and the Oxford Casino Hotel.
The Oxford in particular could see direct competition from the Lilac Club, as both businesses are located around the same distance from Portland, Maine’s most densely populated area.
“We’re a little bit smaller, but I think we’re hopefully a better experience,” said casino owner Greg Carlin. “And so, I do think we’ll get a draw from the southern Maine area.”
In February, both of Maine’s casinos generated $10 million in net revenue, a 27% drop from February 2024.
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