North Carolina has a state lottery and two tribal casinos.

• North Carolina has a state lottery and two tribal casinos.
  
• Both tribal sportsbooks will be able to take bets on sporting events as early as November 2019.
  
• This study will help legislatures better understand the sports betting in its entirety in order to decide on its future legalization.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In their pursuit of learning more about legalizing sports betting, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina has just signed a gambling study bill. After months of indecision from legislation, the bill was signed with the intention of helping the state move one step closer to legal sports wagering at commercial venues.

This new bill will hire a third-party contractor to conduct studies on the effects that further gambling outlets would have on the state and its residents. North Carolina is not known to move quickly when it comes to gambling in general. It took them years before they decided to participate in a state lottery.

The study would look at all forms of sports betting from brick and mortar locations to the internet and mobile options. Currently, there are thirteen states that have launched legalized sports betting, and five of those states allow for mobile or internet wagers. The Gaming Commission’s structure would also be analyzed to see if it could handle further gambling options based on their current regulations. 

While studying all possible aspects, including the thoughts of politicians on the matter, this is a huge step forward for sports betting in North Carolina. As it presently stands, betting on sporting events already takes place in the state at two tribal casinos. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel are allowed to offer sports betting to their patrons due to the signing of NC SB 154 in February. This allowed for sports wagers to be legal only when done on tribal grounds.

Further legalization of the pastime is still ways away. This study is not expected to be completed until April 2020 where its findings will then be passed on to the state legislature. Legislative sessions in North Carolina typically cease in July, allowing only three months for lawmakers to come up with a bill and sign it into law. The best-case scenario for residents of the state would be to expect changes to occur sometime in 2021.

News tags: Gambling Study Bill | Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort | Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino Hotel | NC SB 154 | North Carolina | Roy Cooper