North Carolina Republican Senator Jim Davis had his sports betting proposal passed by the state Senate. S154, which seeks to legalize sports wagering in the Tar Heel State, has now been transferred to the House of Representatives. If North Carolina is successful in its bid, it will become the first state to legalize sports betting in the US this year.
It wasn’t a huge surprise that the bill passed easily through Senate – with 43 voting in favor of the law, and seven against it. Senator Davis believes that there is a good chance that it will be signed into law by June, 2019.
Highlights of S154:
- Under the proposed law, tribal gaming facilities will be allowed to offer sports betting alongside other forms of gambling that are currently permitted under tribal compacts.
- Sports bets must be placed on tribal lands where Class III gaming activities are already being offered. The same conditions apply to horse racing.
- Since the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is the only tribe to have a compact with North Carolina at present, it will be eligible to offer sports betting if the bill is given the green light.
- The final station for S154 is Governor Roy Cooper’s desk. If he decides not to veto the bill, it will automatically become law.
- Revenue raised through sports betting will benefit the Indian Gaming Education Revenue Fund which the new law establishes.
Where to Wager in North Carolina
If and when S154 becomes law, state residents will be allowed to wager at facilities run by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, such as Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort or Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel.
It is expected, however, that the market will expand, and already the Catawba Indian Nation has proposed a new tribal casino in Kings Mountain. The state still needs to agree to a new gaming compact with any new eligible operator.
