In a series of dramatic votes in the North Carolina House of Representatives, legislators approved a sports betting bill, SB 38, in a 51-50 vote and rejected SB 688 in a 50-51 vote. The bill that passed was dependent on the one that did not in order to become law. As a result, the state will remain without sports betting, at least for now.
Just after the vote, state Rep. Jason Saine, a leader of legislation, said, “It’s not totally dead. We may end up with a bill before the end of session that will serve for sports betting. Don’t know yet.”
The confusion was due to the fact that two separate sports betting bills were advancing through the legislature. SB 688, the original bill, previously passed the Senate but failed in the House. The new bill, SB 38, is a vehicle for amending the original bill. The new bill includes several changes House members proposed prior to the vote, such as banning wagering on college and amateur sports and raising taxes and fees on operators so the state would make more money.
The bills had bipartisan support and opposition. Far-right Republican state Rep. Larry Pittman and far-left Democratic state Rep. Pricey Harrison both gave fervent speeches against the bill. Many lawmakers from both parties skipped the vote altogether by not traveling to Raleigh or by leaving the chamber during the vote so their vote wouldn’t be on the record.
Opponents of sports betting said allowing it would lead to more gambling addiction and societal problems. Supporters said unregulated sports betting already occurs through offshore online websites or local bookies, resulting in lost revenue for the state. Saine noted, “Sports wagering is going to remain an issue for the state of North Carolina. Because all of the states around us are doing it, we’ll continue to lose money to other states.”
According to the American Gaming Association, currently 20 states and the District of Columbia offer mobile sports betting, including Virginia and Tennessee, and 28 states and D.C. offer retail wagering. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened on-site sportsbooks at its two Harrah’s Cherokee casinos in North Carolina in 2021.
Democratic Governor Roy Cooper has said he’ll sign sports wagering legislation.
