After failing by a single vote last year, sports betting in North Carolina has gained more support and could be a reality by the beginning of 2024. HB 347 would allow wagering on professional, college, Olympic, and electronic sports on mobile apps.
Sports betting is already legal in North Carolina at three tribal casinos.
Lawmakers that were polled showed 40 percent were in favor of legalizing wagering in the Tar Heel State. The bill has support from both Democrats and Republicans.
One of those that is in favor of the bill is Democratic leader Robert Reives. Last year Reives voted against the legislation but said particulars in the bill have been explained sufficiently to those in the House and Senate.
“I’ve had a chance to talk to some people and because my concern was when we went into that vote, a lot of us didn’t know what we were voting on, who we were benefiting.” Reives told WRAL in January. “And when you vote on something as serious as gambling, my position is I kind of need to know what the lay of the land is. And so we’ve had months now to really have a chance to sit down, talk, see how this fits all fits into an overall economic development scheme.”
Another group that is swaying the passage of the bill are freshmen congressmen. Of the 51 sponsors, 12 of them were elected last November.
Republican Majority Leader John Bell, Republican Conference Chair Jason Saine, House Deputy Democratic Leader Ashton Clemmons and Rep. Zack Hawkins, a Durham Democrat, are the primary sponsors of the bill.
“This bill is a bipartisan bill,” Saine said, “and we’ve learned a good bit from both sides about some of the tweaks that needed to happen.”
The bill has been assigned to the Commerce, Finance, Judiciary 1 and Rules committees. The House Commerce Committee meets Tuesday afternoons.
Of the 51 sponsors 28 are Republicans and 23 are Democrats. If the bill gets out of the House, it should have a smooth path to becoming law.
Last year, the Senate approved the bill that was ultimately rejected by a lone vote in the House. The Senate is expected to quickly pass HB 347. Governor Roy Cooper has said on multiple occasions that he would sign a sports betting bill if it made it to his desk.
