North Carolina Lawmakers to Discuss iGaming Legislation

Online sports betting and gambling have become commonplace in the United States after the Supreme Court annulled the Bradley Act or simply PASPA. But although sports betting is available in 20+ states, online gambling is legal in only six states.

The number could soon increase with North Carolina mulling over the introduction of legal online casino games. This was after Senate Leader, Phil Berger, said the lawmakers would explore the possibility of legalizing iGaming and add authorization for four new casinos in the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

In addition to four local casinos, Berger pointed out that lawmakers are also considering legalizing video lottery terminals statewide. He clarified that the main worry would be how additional new casinos might affect the state's revenue.

He said:

“There will be a conversation about it. One of the things that we have to be cognizant of, and I think we've thinking about this in terms of where in North Carolina potential casinos would be located, is the idea of some sort of market saturation and whether or not the more that you have on the phone that looks like a slot machine and acts like a slot machine.”

In June, Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 to legalize online betting on sports and horse races. The governor said this competitive legislation would create many well-paying jobs and bolster the state's economy. Online sports betting will launch in the state in January 2024.

In a show of support, Scott Ward, the Vice President of the Sports Betting Alliance, said iGaming must be included if lawmakers will adopt legislation to increase gambling. According to him, many consumers currently prefer playing casino games online. Ward pointed out that research in other jurisdictions has shown online gambling draws a distinct demographic from traditional casinos.