North Carolina gambling bills reignite with optimism
Proposed Legalization of Sports Betting in North Carolina for 2023
Get ready to put your money on the line, North Carolina! State lawmakers are looking optimistic this year as they set their sights on passing a sports betting bill, one year after discussions got snarled up in the House of Representatives. Despite the hiccup last year, the Senate managed to pull through, but a final decision was never made.
Fast forward to now, and the House and Senate have undergone some changes, with mostly Republicans taking the helm. They appear eager to push through a sports betting bill, and Senate President Phil Berger is confident they'll find enough backing and quell opposition in both chambers.
Public demand for sports gambling on the rise
Berger recognizes the public's growing support for sports betting, and with an estimated 9.9 million North Carolinians aged 18 or older, it's hard to ignore [2]. With technology at our fingertips, many are already placing bets illegally, but the Senate hopes to regulate and legitimize the market.
Last year, public opinion on moral grounds scuttled a bill, but with 33 states and Washington D.C. now offering sports betting, this argument is beginning to wear thin. North Carolina, however, has a reputation for being fiercely opposed to all forms of gambling.
The state remains devoid of commercial casinos, pari-mutuel wagering, racinos, or any private-owned gambling establishments. Casino operations are limited to the three tribal casinos: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River, and Catawba Two Kings Casino. These licensed properties operate within the bounds of tribal sovereignty, leaving lawmakers out of the mix.
House Bill 347 inches forward with bipartisan support
House Bill 347 has garnered support from both sides of the political aisle, being sponsored by Democrats Ashton Wheeler Clemmons and Zack Hawkins, as well as Republicans Jason Saine and John Bell. The bill currently has 40 House members in favor, with 21 more votes needed to secure a majority in the 120-member House.
Bill aims to bypass traditional brick-and-mortar approach
House Bill 347 is an ambitious project that seeks to fast-track sports gambling. Rather than the usual back-and-forth process of starting with land-based sports betting and later expanding online, the bill strives to jump straight to online platforms. The proposed plan includes issuing at least 10 interactive licenses, with as many as 12 permitted.
The steep licensing fee stands at $1 million for new applicants and renewals every five years, but the market might not be discouraged, given the massive potential revenue up for grabs.
So, will House Bill 347 clear its path to the top? Stay tuned for updates, as the legislative journey is just beginning.
[1] North Carolina General Assembly, Senate Bill 688 (2024), Text (June 21, 2024) https://www.ncleg.gov/Document/Transfer/2024/Senate/688
[2] United States Census Bureau Quickfacts, North Carolina, accessed March 10, 2025, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NorthCarolina
[3] House Bill 347, North Carolina General Assembly, 2025 Session, Section 17C-30B, Definition of Interactive Wagering (as introduced) https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H347
- Phil Berger, the Senate President, expresses optimism about passing a sports betting bill in North Carolina, despite last year's setback in the House of Representatives.
- Lawmakers are eager to legitimize the growing sports betting market in North Carolina, acknowledging the public's increasing demand.
- House Bill 347, sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans, aims to bypass the traditional brick-and-mortar approach and jump straight to online platforms for sports betting.
- The bill seeks to issue at least 10 interactive licenses for sports betting and up to 12 if demand justifies, with a steep licensing fee of $1 million for new applicants and renewals every five years.
- The passage of House Bill 347 will likely have a significant impact on the overall sportsbook industry, including casinos and general-news outlets covering sports betting and politics.
- Despite North Carolina's traditional opposition to gambling, the persistent push from lawmakers and the opportunity for generating substantial revenue may lead to an unsustainable growth in sports betting, altering the state's local Spectra significantly.
