North Carolina Considering Major Gambling Expansion In The State

As gamblers in North Carolina patiently wait for online casinos to open, the Tar Heel State is ready to go through a gambling boon. In addition to North Carolina gambling laws changing to accommodate online gambling, up to four new land-based casinos are being planned in the state.

Due to a new draft of proposed legislation in North Carolina, one operator will be licensed to operate three casinos. Additionally, a fourth casino operated by the Lumbee Tribe in southeastern North Carolina is also in the works. The casinos are part of a $1.5 billion dollar investment by the state to transform the gambling industry in North Carolina¹.

North Carolina is not regarded as a gambling hub in the United States. However, with these additions, and legal online gambling, North Carolina is expected to have a significant gambling footprint. Currently, North Carolina gambling laws prohibit casino gambling on non-tribal grounds.

Amendment of North Carolina Gambling Laws

There are three casinos located in North Carolina, but all of them are situated on tribal land. These are Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, and Catawba Two Kings Casino².

With the introduction of three casinos on non-tribal land, the gambling landscape could be changed forever in North Carolina. Referred to as the Rural Tourism Incentive Program, the intention of the $1.5 billion investment is to encourage the development of casinos for the advancement of tourism in rural areas.

Specifically, North Carolina is seeking to build three casinos on the state border and along major transportation lines. According to the Rural Tourism Incentive Program, the initiative is a response to competing states expanding their gambling industry³.

Virginia vs. North Carolina Casino Wars

In fact, the action by North Carolina is likely in response to Virginia opening casinos on the NC-Virginia border. In May, Caesars Virginia opened their temporary casino in Danville, Virginia. The facility will remain open until the permanent casino is finished being built.

When Caesars Virginia is expected to open next year, residents of Virginia close to Danville will have easy access to a Vegas-style casino resort. The intention of the State of Virginia is to attract gambling-starved residents of North Carolina who do not have a convenient option nearby⁴.

Durham resident Kendrick Mitchell said this of Caesars Virginia⁵:

“With inflation and everything, people want to find something close to travel to, and they want to enjoy themselves without having to drive or fly miles or a hundred miles away, so this is a perfect location.”

Moreover, the casino is attracting workers from Virginia. It is money and labor that North Carolina would rather keep in their state. This is not the first attempt by Virginia to deliver a blow to North Carolina, and likely won’t be the last.

Last year, the first Virginia casino opened just 20 miles from the North Carolina border. In July 2022, the Hard Rock Casino & Resort opened in Bristol, Virginia. With 870 slot machines, blackjack, and craps tables, the Hard Rock is another entertainment destination for residents of Virginia⁶.

North Carolina couldn’t afford to stand idle for much longer. The Rural Tourism Incentive Program is a strike back at Virginia for building casinos targeting North Carolinians. The alternative is continuing to watch Virginia bringing gamblers over the state line to their casinos.

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Where Are The New North Carolina Casinos Being Built?

North Carolina has a strategic plan for where the new casinos are going to be built in the state. While official sites for the casinos have not been announced, the criteria for casino sites have been selected. The following four requirements must be fulfilled to have a casino developed in their community:

• Located east of Interstate 77
• A border county or a county traversed by Interstate 95
• Population of less than 100,000 people
• 40 most economically depressed counties in the state

Along with looking to counter Virginia, North Carolina lawmakers want to spur economic activity and jobs into regions that are currently suffering. Certainly, one concern with this approach is that opening casinos in underprivileged communities could lead to problem gambling.

Under this criteria:

Three counties are in the preliminary stages of preparing for new casinos:  Anson, Nash, and Rockingham counties. According to a study done by a research group, the casinos could generate up to $1.7 billion in gross wagering revenue on a yearly basis and hundreds of millions in taxes⁷.

Note that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will be involved in the discussions for the new casinos. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River are both owned by the tribe. Final decisions at the state level will be made in accordance with the tribal casinos before proceeding.

The State of North Carolina will only accept one bid. One operator will be in control of all three casinos. The proposed casino from the Lumbee Tribe will fall under their own jurisdiction.

Video Gambling Machines Proposed

The Forgivable Loans/HBCU Supplemental Funding bill would amend North Carolina Gambling laws to legalize video gambling terminals in the state.

Known as House Bill 512 in the North Carolina Legislature, gambling machines in bars, restaurants, and “sweepstake parlors” throughout the Tar Heel State would be legalized.

Backed by Rep. Harry Warren, the Lottery Commission would be responsible for regulating and tracking gambling on the machines. Retail establishments will be required to apply for a license, with a pay-per-machine tax paid by manufacturers and property owners⁸.

In other words, casinos are not expected to be the only new gambling outlet in North Carolina. The North Carolina gambling expansion goes well beyond land-band casinos. While House Bill 512 goes through the motions in the state Legislature, online sports betting and casinos are opening soon in North Carolina.

Online Sports Betting Launching In 2024

In 2019, sports betting was legalized in the state. The first legal sports betting locations were opened at the three authorized tribal casinos. However, there weren’t any North Carolina online casinos included in the original online gambling bill.

On June 14, 2023, Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law. With the passing of the bill, online gambling will be permitted in North Carolina. The law opens the door for up to twelve mobile sports betting licenses.

Virginia is poaching gamblers from North Carolina for now. But, Virginia should enjoy it while it lasts, because North Carolinians are going to have multiple avenues for gambling in their home state shortly. If you moved to Virginia from North Carolina to wager at legal sportsbooks, you can move back in 2024.

The law will become effective on January 8, 2024. Although, the earliest online gambling can launch in North Carolina is on January 24⁹.

Where Can You Gamble Online In North Carolina?

There are North Carolina sports betting sites for residents to bet on sports right now. You will not have to wait until next year to bet on sports in North Carolina.

With several online sportsbooks available, it can be a daunting process to sift through every betting site to find the best. For residents of North Carolina, we recommend checking out rated online sportsbook and casino, BetUS.

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