Republicans in North Carolina are yet to reach an agreement on casinos, as discussions persist.
North Carolina Republicans, who have a majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, are discussing the possibility of legalizing commercial casinos. However, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) mentioned that they are still in the process of caucusing their members to gauge support for this gambling push.
Earlier this year, state legislators along with Governor Roy Cooper (D) legalized online sports betting. This bill authorized the North Carolina Education Lottery to issue up to 12 online sportsbook licenses. Each license costs $1 million for a five-year duration, and gross sports betting revenue will be taxed at 18%.
North Carolina's online sportsbooks are expected to go live in early 2024. Now, with some Republican leaders starting to experience the potential benefits provided by expanding gaming, conversations have shifted towards considering full-scale casinos. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) has taken the lead on this effort, pushing for a casino in Rockingham, Anson, and Nash counties.
Berger suggests giving The Cordish Companies exclusive development rights to all three properties. The Baltimore-based gaming and hospitality firm, which runs Live! Casinos in Maryland and Pennsylvania, has recently given numerous campaign contributions to North Carolina Republicans.
Assessing Support
Moore revealed this week that he has instructed his legislative deputies to count the number of GOP members to see if there's enough backing to incorporate the casino bill into the state's budget.
"I want to know where our caucus is, and we just have to have a count. We don't have it yet," Moore stated.
Republican leaders don't want the casino provision to further delay the state's budget, which has already led to an extended legislative session.
Opponents argue that casinos would negatively impact property values, increase crime and substance abuse, and potentially lead to gambling addiction and bankruptcies.
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, who thinks the local voters should have the final say in whether a casino is allowed, called for a county referendum to determine the community's desire for gambling in their area.
"When I think of 'We the People' in our Constitution, it lets me know who I work for. I work for the people, and our elected officials work for the people. We should never forget that," Page said.
New Generations of GOP Lawmakers
Moore and Berger believe that Raleigh should at least explore the idea of allowing casinos. The reasoning being that permitting casinos in border towns or near major highways would prevent gaming revenue from heading to neighboring states, where casinos are opening.
Much of the casino talks have been done discreetly, leaving local officials and residents in the targeted counties in the dark. Around 50 residents from Rockingham, Nash, and Anson protested outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh yesterday, holding "Keep Our Community Great" signs, urging legislators to abandon the gambling efforts.
"This isn't about politics. It's about people. It's about the next generation. Our kids today have enough challenges in their lives. If you mess with our kids, we will vote you out," said Nash County real estate agent Joni Robbins, as per the Associated Press.
North Carolina had previously opposed any attempts at commercial gaming until the passage of the sports betting bill in June. The change occurred following the election of 43 new lawmakers, the majority of whom are new Republican politicians that are more prone to supporting controversial matters like gambling.
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