North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore said the Republican caucus recently met in a lengthy session to determine if they can agree on a proposal to authorize four casinos in the state.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Moore said, “We don’t have anything to report back after the caucus, but probably will in the next couple of days. The Senate had a concept that has been discussed, the House had some different views on that.”
The casino proposal includes one casino each in Rockingham, Nash and Anson counties, and a fourth operated by the Lumbee Tribe. But Moore indicated that plan could change. He added a majority of the 72-member House GOP caucus is needed to advance the proposal, which could be included in the budget that was supposed to have been finalized in June or filed as a standalone bill.
Citing the Caesars casino resort under construction in Danville, Virginia, an hour and a half north of Raleigh, Moore and Senate Majority Leader Phil Berger have said North Carolina needs to build its own casinos to generate state and local revenue and create jobs.
Meanwhile, as the caucus was meeting, about 50 opponents of the proposed casino plan held a rally protesting the lack of public discussion about the issue. Holding signs reading “Keep Our Community Great,” they urged lawmakers to reject casinos as well as video gaming machines.
Several protesters criticized Rockingham County officials who unanimously voted to rezone 200 acres next to a camp for children with special needs for a possible casino, which observers said would be developed by the Cordish Companies. Brandon Leebrick, a Greensboro attorney and rally organizer, said he expects local landowners to file a lawsuit against the commissioners’ rezoning decision.
Other rally speakers said casino gambling could lead to lower property values, increased crime and substance abuse and gambling addiction.
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, who is running for lieutenant governor next year, said residents should be allowed to vote on having a casino.
According to the News & Observer, he said, “That makes me think of ‘We the People. When I think of that phrase in our Constitution, it lets me know who I work for. I work for the people, our elected officials work for the people and we should never forget that. Our representatives have the chance today to stand up and show that they represent their citizens in their respective counties by allowing our citizens to have a voice in the destiny and values in their communities where they live.”
Moore has said, however, the GOP House caucus would prefer to leave decisions on casinos to county commissions and city councils, whom voters elect, not on local referendums specifically.
Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, who is running for governor and represented Rockingham County, also spoke against the casino proposal. State Rep. Neal Jackson also posted on social media that casinos don’t align with family values and will only lead to more work for law enforcement.
The North Carolina legislature passed a bill in June to authorize sports betting starting next year. Currently, two Native American tribes operate the state’s three casinos.
