NORTH CAROLINA MOBILE SPORTS BETTING MOST LIKELY WILL NOT BE LEGALIZED THIS YEAR

A North Carolina sports betting bill is looking like it will be done moving for now. According to the representative who was shepherding the bill, Representative Jason Saine, it is looking like the bill will not be addressed again until next year. On November 4th, The House Commerce Committee voted 12-4 to pass SB 688, the sports betting bill.

The bill was passed after a discussion that made sure the representatives knew mobile sports betting is a pressing issue in the state. The session for the North Carolina Assembly has been kept longer this year than usual because of some other business. And, unfortunately, no more action is expected on the North Carolina sports betting bill in 2021.

The North Carolina Assembly will not be back in session again until April. But, the bill will be eligible when the session does resume. The bill will have to go through three more committees in its journey to become law.

Representative Saine has the goal of making sure that North Carolina sports betting is at the front of everyone’s minds when the session resumes next year. Back in April 2021, the bill was introduced by State Senators Jim Perry and Paul Lowe. The state Senate approved the bill back in August.

Representative Saine wants to make sure the bill is discussed for its merits and no false narratives become connected to it. He wants to hear any valid opposition there is to it in order to find out the reasoning behind the opposition.

SB 688 would legalize North Carolina mobile sports betting. And, the bill would create sports betting licenses for ten to twelve online operators. North Carolina would tax sports betting revenue at a rate of 8%. Representative Saine does not imagine that those parts of the bill would change. Otherwise, it would have to be sent back to the state Senate if any changes were made. However, if a better idea comes about, he does indicate that he is open to hearing it.

The bill has garnered a large amount of support in the Commerce Committee and an apparent lack of opposition. This fact was surprising to Representative Saine. He feels that the vote was bipartisan, as was the opposition. However, he feels the voting process went better for the bill than he had thought it would. Many supporters of the bill had worked hard to make sure the members were familiar with the bill prior to the vote.

Ches McDowell, a lobbyist, spoke at the Commerce Committee hearing. He has previously indicated that he believes there are enough legislative votes out there to legalize North Carolina mobile sports betting. Even though Representative Saine does not expect the bill to be passed this year, he does say that anything could be possible.

Representative Saine expressed his desire to legalize North Carolina sports betting in order to guarantee protection for sports betting consumers. This is because, as of right now, there are around 2 million residents in North Carolina who are betting online illegally. This means that there are no protections for these consumers because of the illegality. Plus, the state is missing out on the tax revenue that they could be collecting from these bets.

In North Carolina, sports betting is legal at tribal casinos at retail sportsbooks. Earlier this year, two casinos that are owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Native Americans opened their own retail sportsbooks.

Written by Allie Nelson, our US Sports Betting Industry expert. You can learn more about our author's expertise here.