New Hampshire gambling supporters are preparing to make a major push in the wake of a landmark decision by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to endorse casino gambling, but history suggests they will encounter stiff resistance.

Despite a legislative setback for the latest video slots proposal, political momentum in New Hampshire is shifting towards an embrace of expanded gambling, observers say. A new statewide poll is pointing to broad public support for more wagering, while the number of state legislators in favour also appears to be growing.

New Hampshire has rejected a proposal that would have significantly expanded gambling in the New England state, saying no to a push by local chambers of commerce to raise money by offering casino-style table games. The move comes as New Hampshire puts a series of new restrictions on its booming charity gambling sector.

A key New Hampshire legislative committee has endorsed expanded gambling as an option to deal with the state’s financial crunch. The vote highlights a shift in the debate over gambling in the New England state, one that could give slot machine backers their best chance in years of passing a bill, observers say.

Other New England states are starting to look anew at expanded gambling in the wake of the collapse of a sweeping plan to make Massachusetts a major player in the casino resort industry. Legislators in both New Hampshire and Rhode Island say the demise of the casino gambling bill in their larger neighbour state presents a market opportunity for them to exploit.

New Hampshire’s top gambling regulator is scrambling to oversee a mushrooming “charity” poker sector that now generates tens of millions in betting turnover, even as state budget woes threaten to take a bite out of his payroll, and legislators ponder the introduction of slots in the state.

Casino developers and racetrack operators are turning obscure state laws to their advantage in their bids to crack Massachusetts and New Hampshire, two New England markets that have proven historically resistant to gambling expansion.

The drive to bring expanded gambling to New Hampshire now faces an increasingly uphill battle, with Govenor John Lynch last week stating he is extremely sceptical of proposals to open the state to slot machines. The shift comes as casino proposals in other New England states also face growing opposition.

Backers of expanded gambling in New Hampshire suffered a serious setback yesterday, when a crucial legislative proposal was withdrawn before a scheduled vote.

The chairman of a New Hampshire commission weighing the expansion of gambling is defending the panel against charges of bias leveled at it by both gambling supporters and opponents.