Legislation Advancing in North Carolina Authorizes Sports Betting at Native American Casinos
In the halls of North Carolina's legislature, a bill with substantial backing is making waves. House Bill 302, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Davis (R-Franklin), aims to allow Indian casinos in the state to offer sports betting and horse racing simulcasts.
The bill, which contains the same language as Davis' initial proposal, has already passed its first vote in the North Carolina General Assembly. If passed, it would open up new opportunities for gaming, including betting on horse races, within Class III casinos on tribal lands.
One of the casinos that could potentially benefit from this expansion is Harrah's River Valley Casino, situated in the district of House Majority Whip Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin). Another casino is located near the Tennessee border, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while the other is in Murphy, which is situated in the southwestern corner of the state near the Georgia border.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who operate two casinos in North Carolina, have expressed their support for the bill. On the day Davis filed the bill, a group from the tribe, including the tribe's leader, went to Raleigh to lobby on behalf of the bill.
If passed, the state would stand to gain approximately $1 million in tax revenue, according to Davis. The bill also estimates that sports betting could generate about $14 million for the tribe.
The bill has the support of key legislative figures, including state Sen. Phil Berger (R-Eden), the chamber's president pro tempore. Governor Roy Cooper, who signed HB 347 into law authorizing sports betting statewide, is also a primary sponsor for the latest sports betting bill.
It's important to note that while sports betting is legal at Indian casinos since 2020 and has been expanded statewide under HB 347, no specific legislation on horse racing betting at Indian casinos was found in current sources.
The bill has a companion in the state House of Representatives, House Bill 302, and the committee's amendment added bets on horse races. The bill is currently scheduled to be reviewed by the Senate Rules and Operations Committee on Tuesday.
On a national level, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) are sponsors of a bill filed by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) that would allow South Carolina's Catawba nation to open a tribal casino. This development could further fuel the discussion around casino expansion in the region.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, it will be interesting to see how the debate unfolds and whether North Carolina will see an expansion in its casino gaming landscape.
- The proposed bill in North Carolina's legislature, if passed, would not only permit Indian casinos to offer sports betting and horse racing simulcasts but also extend to betting on casino games, potentially enriching the gaming options within Class III casinos on tribal lands.
- In addition to sports betting, the latest amendment to House Bill 302, concerning casino expansion in North Carolina, includes bets on horse races, a move that could significantly broaden the gaming opportunities within the state's Indian casinos.
