Best Casino Charities US — New Donation Models

19 September 2026

An innovative fundraising model in New Hampshire is seeing casinos funnel record sums to local charities. However, the windfall for nonprofits has only heightened concerns about the sustainability of funding for gambling harm prevention groups.

New Hampshire's gambling model is a boon for local organizations. Under state law, 35% of gross gaming revenue from games of chance, and 8.75% from historic horse racing machine winnings, is donated to charities. The Nash Casino is a shining example, supported by its charity casino model. In August, the casino announced a $2.7 million donation to 14 New Hampshire nonprofits, a record-high that follows a similar landmark donation in July. The Nash builds on a strong start – it has been giving to local charities since it opened in 2025.

A Tried-and-True Model

The Nash, alongside other New Hampshire casinos, donates a portion of its gaming revenue to local organizations on a rotating schedule. Each charity is sponsored for a seven- to ten-day period, during which the nonprofit receives all of the charitable funds generated. This model aims to spread funding widely, but it results in less consistent revenue for each organization.

The Brook, another New Hampshire casino, donated $11 million to local organizations in 2024, according to Focus Gaming News. Across the state in 2022, charitable giving from casinos and gaming revenue topped $17.7 million, according to a local report. While New Hampshire casinos have donated tens of millions to local nonprofits over the past few years, New Hampshire charities face legislative pressure to diversify their fundraising strategies. House Bill 625 would cap charitable donations to a single non-profit at $200,000 in fiscal year 2025, $150,000 in 2026, and $125,000 in 2027.

New Funding Models Emerge

Industry stakeholders are seeking new ways to do good. In Nevada, gambling operators have introduced a direct player-funded charitable giving model. Everi’s charitable giving module, installed at self-service kiosks, lets players donate part or all of a winning ticket at redemption. A 2019 report from the Las Vegas Review Journal says 100% of these donations typically go to the chosen charity. Another kiosk-based donation program, Caesars Makes Change, allows casino guests to contribute to a charitable organization at the ticket redemption point.

This flexible approach doesn’t replace traditional models. It adds an option for socially minded players to immediately help their communities. Caesars launched Caesars Makes Change in 2022 and it's now available in over 40 of its properties, according to the company's investor website. Critics are wary of the scale: NPR called it “play-based philanthropy” that suggests casinos are working to combat poor public perception.

A Cautionary Cross-Atlantic Tale

The UK's recent rollout of a statutory gambling research, education and treatment (RET) fund offers a lesson on how quickly the philanthropic landscape can shift. In March, the UK government announced £120 million had been collected for the new fund, according to the betting trade magazine Sbcnews. However, that windfall may be too little, too late for some organizations.

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A three-month transition grant – available between April and June 2026 – was crafted to ensure gambling-harm charities continued operations while the government worked through the RET fund's application process. To qualify, nonprofits had to be conducting harm research, education or treatment in March and to have previously been excluded from funding under the Gambling Harms Prevention or Treatment VCSE Grant Fund.

Finding solid footing under a new law is proving tricky. The DCMS required grantees to use RCE funding to supplement transitional funding rather than replacing it. Capital expenditures costing more than £2,000 are expressly excluded. Accessing the transition money is competitive, and charities may not be able to continue beyond the three-month period. Nonprofits worry that operational instability may impact staff distribution and day-to-day effectiveness.

Tug-of-War: When Charitable Gambling Meets Responsible Gambling

The contrast between the thriving charity model in New Hampshire and the funding vulnerability of the UK's gambling harm nonprofits raises thorny questions. Who is supposed to profit from the fruits of mass participation gaming? For New Hampshire charities, the answer is clear. The state's "choose a charity" model means all donations go to local nonprofits – even educational funding from gambling revenue is distributed through vocational and technical schools.

A similar approach is playing out in Nevada. When players win at slots, 2% of their payout goes to four organizations: the Nevada Organ and Tissue Donors Awareness Foundation, Opportunity Village, Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

Responsible gambling groups, on the other hand, struggle with unstable funding. With UK gambling harm charities fighting to stay afloat, and uncertain levels of support in the years ahead, casinos worldwide may need to adopt a more balanced approach – one that supports gambling harm research, education, and treatment alongside traditional nonprofit funding.