As other neighboring states have already legalized betting, including Virginia and Tennessee, North Carolina is equally keen to catch up and do so quickly. This may yet happen with the support of prominent lawmakers from the state such as Phil Berger, who thinks this is the year when the state finally succeeds.
North Carolina is Hesitant about Betting, But Gathering Momentum
There is no shortage of lawmakers who are now taking a close look and throwing their support for various measures to see the sports betting industry state-regulated and bound by a legal framework.
Efforts have been most successful in the Senate, with Senate Bill 688 making it out of a floor vote with 26-19 in favor, but eventually failing with a close margin during a House vote with a slim 49-52 disadvantage in 2021.
Much has changed since then, and while some neighbors are still holding out states and not in a hurry to regulate sports gambling, North Carolina seems to be realizing that betting is already happening – whether it’s regulated and contributed to the state’s tax is down to lawmakers to decide.
New Faces Means New Hopes for Sports Betting
The legal makeup is different this year, with 12 new senators and 26 new representatives who may be more open to the idea of pushing sports betting laws. The fact that more than 30 other states already have is definitely building up the pressure for local states to follow suit as well.
Many are also warning about the dangers of not legalizing sports gambling. According to Senator Jim Perry, one of the sponsors of SB 688, residents of North Carolina already participate in various sports betting contests – and many do so illegally.
To criminalize an activity that is already legal in the majority of the country, says Perry, would not be productive. Of course, there are concerns. Most opponents insisted that gambling is addictive and it endangers communities and lives, but fail to acknowledge that problem gambling is an issue even now but not enough funding is directed this way.
Putting a levy on gambling companies to contribute to problem gambling treatment and research, and ensuring that robust consumer safeguards are in place is a better way to tackle the issue than avoiding it altogether. So far, though, there is no legal momentum gathering up in the form of a bill – just chatter.
One rumor is that the state may be expanding gambling with up to nine new casinos that will also end up hosting sports betting. This year’s legislative session is running through August 31, offering legislators plenty of time to debate the matter, though.