Sports Betting In NC Now Backed By The Tribes, Senate Bill Introduced Without Mobile Wagering

• North Carolina Tribes Only Requested Sports Betting For Their Two Casino Properties
• Companion NC Sports Betting Bill Expected To Be Introduced In The House As Well

RALEIGH, N.C. – Even though the Tar Heel State is the 30th one to introduce a sports betting bill this year, the chances of a bill passing are highly likely according to the bill sponsor, N.C. Senator Jim Davis.

That’s because while most states have faced resistance from their tribes on the topic of sports gambling, Senate Bill N.C. S 154 actually came from the request of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.

The Tribe owns two casinos in the state, namely the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, N.C. and the Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy, N.C.

The requested legislation would add sports betting to the list of Class III games that they already offer at their on-site properties. However, mobile wagering was not included in the first draft of the bill.

The bill is more or less a placeholder for the moment and will need to be filled this month by multiple Senate Committees. While mobile wagering provisions could be added later, it is not likely.

“The Eastern Band Came to me with this proposal and that’s what they wanted,” said David. They’re not interested in expanding at this time, and probably have no interest in expanding in the future.”

The current provisions only included the ability for the Tribes to host sportsbooks at their physical locations and would allow them to offer odds on both professional and collegiate sports. Under the bill’s current form, Davis expects the bill to be passed this month and signed into law by June.

What Are The Chances That NC Sports Betting Will Become Law?

Davis’s confidence in the possibility of bringing sports wagering to N.C. comes from his two previous successes at expanding gambling operations for the tribes in his district.

He was able to pass legislation allowing them to offer table games and permitting them to construct two additional casinos in the state. He sees this new challenge as no different than his last attempts.

“I know some people won’t vote for it because they have moral objections to wagering, but I don’t think it will be many,” he said.

Although, North Carolina and the Republican party have traditionally been opposed to gambling expansion. Both legislative chambers are mostly represented by Republican representatives.

Davis will also need the help of N.C. House Representative Kevin Corbin to introduce a companion bill in his chamber. If all goes well, Davis does not see any resistance coming from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and expects to get his final signature.

The North Carolina General Assembly would then include the new estimated tax revenue to come from the activity in the state budget. They are expected to meet until the end of June to conclude their budget, which gives state legislators months to fill out and analyze their respective sports betting bills.