Nashua will get its second casino later this year after the announcement on Monday that Milford’s River Casino is relocating to downtown Nashua.

“We’ve always wanted to be in Nashua,” said Greg Barber, River Casino’s general manager. “This is our first real opportunity to do it.”

River is buying out the Arena Sports Bar on High Street, just a block off Main Street. The new establishment, to be called River Casino and Sports Bar, is set to open early next month, with 12 poker tables and six gaming tables. Barber said the business will also have a full restaurant and bar.

Arena Sports Bar will stay open during the transition and the dozens of televisions and three projectors will stay once it becomes a casino. The Milford location will become a Bingo and Lucky 7 parlor, Barber said.

River Casino is one of nine charitable gaming casinos in the state, and is already fully licensed to operate in New Hampshire. New Hampshire does not allow typical casinos to operate, but under the law casino games can take place with specific parameters. Charitable casinos must give 35 percent of the take every night to a New Hampshire-based charity, registered with the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office. No registered charity can benefit from a casino for more than 10 nights a year, leaving operations like River to find dozens of charities in order to operate year-round. Additionally, the state takes a 10 percent tax on all gaming, as well as a 3 percent tax on tournament games. The games also have a $4 maximum betting limit.

According to barber, River Casino donated over $2.6 million to nearly 75 nonprofits since it opened 10 years ago. Benefitting charities include animal protection groups, veterans organizations, student athletics, church programs and food pantries.

Barber expects the charitable giving to triple in size at the new location.

“We have a great place here in Nashua and we want our customers to walk through the doors and have a fun and exciting gaming experience, while knowing we are giving back to our community,” Barber said.

River will be the second gambling site to open in the city within a few weeks.

The Boston Billiards Club on Northeastern Boulevard celebrated a grand opening for its own charitable casino on Nov. 10, featuring dozens of poker tables and several other gaming tables.

Damien Fisher can be reached at 594-6531 or dfisher@nashuatelegraph.com.