North Carolina approves tribal betting bill
Legal betting expected to bring in $1.5m in annual revenues as betting on local college teams is permitted
North Carolina has passed a bill legalizing retail sports betting in two tribal casinos within the state.
The bill does not include mobile betting, although a newly established gaming commission will explore the opportunity to expand legal betting within the state.
Unusually, the bill includes a clause permitting betting on local college sports teams, which most other states have banned.
Although owned by the Eastern band of the Cherokee tribe, the two casinos – Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort – are operated by Caesars.
Caesars’ Atlantic City and Mississippi venues are powered by Scientific Games’ Open Bet platform, while its Vegas sportsbooks are powered in-house.
Bill supporter Senator Jim Davis estimates the state could generate $1.5m in annual betting revenues.
The North Carolina Lottery Commission will be tasked with putting together a nine-member gaming commission to issue licenses, establish an advertising framework and hand out penalties to those not meeting requirements.
The bill has yet to be signed off by the governor.