North Carolina casino conversation should appeal to state voters – poll
A new poll in North Carolina shows state voters want a say in whether to allow commercial casinos into the Tar Heel State.
Leaders debated at the General Assembly the merits of allowing commercial casino resorts to engage in largely private, closed-door negotiations. Negotiations began shortly after lawmakers passed the sports betting measure in June.
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) proposed allowing a single casino in Rockingham, Anson and Nash counties. His efforts were supported by several other powerful Republicans.
However, many local officials in targeted counties say they have been left out of casino discussions. This has frustrated the county and angered many residents who say they don't want a casino in their backyard.
Voters want to have their say
Cygnal, a Washington-based polling and analytics firm, conducted a survey on Aug. 20 and 21 to gauge the sentiment of “likely general election voters,” asking North Carolina residents what they thought of the Raleigh casino proposal.
Nearly 76% of the 600 respondents said they believe the General Assembly should not approve Las Vegas-style casinos unless a statewide referendum on the issue shows sufficient support for commercial gambling. Only 16% said they did not want a national gaming referendum.
The Poll also found a slim majority of voters support Berger's gaming efforts. When asked whether they supported or opposed passing a law legalizing casino gambling in the state, nearly 55 percent said they supported it. Only 32% said they disliked casino games.
Supporters of turning North Carolina into a commercial gambling state often cite potential economic growth as a reason for their support. Most opponents cite concerns about the social and moral implications of gambling as the reason for their hostility.
More than 6 in 10 respondents said they believed casinos would bring in additional tax revenue. These funds can be used to fund state budgets or fund public education and health care.
North Carolina currently has three tribal casinos.
Poll coming soon
House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), who joined Berger in bringing commercial casinos to North Carolina, commented on the casino investigation, telling CBS17 nothing is set in stone.
"As far as I know, all of the legislators who represent these areas support this measure," Moore said. "But at the end of the day, we haven't come up with a final proposal for the panel members to discuss and weigh." This is all conceptual discussion. "
Moore added that a statewide referendum would be "unusual" because the General Assembly has the power to pass gambling laws without the need for a referendum. This differs from many other states where state constitutions explicitly prohibit most forms of gambling.
Moore emphasized that if the state moves forward with casino development, local officials and affected casino communities will have a chance to speak out at some point.
To make matters worse, Berger reportedly struck a handshake deal with Cordish. If the deal is approved, the Baltimore-based gaming and hospitality company would gain exclusive rights to operate the three casinos. Since 2022, Cordish has made substantial campaign contributions to Berger and other heads of state.
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Source: www.casino.org
