In North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians asked state Senator Jim Davis, whose district includes Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, to introduce legislation allowing sports betting at that location and the tribe’s Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel. Davis said, “The Eastern Band are wanting to get into sports wagering, and wagering is legal now after the Supreme Court decision of May of last year overturning PASPA. It’s a legal enterprise and they want to expand to include wagering in my district, so I consented to file the bill and don’t expect it to have any problems getting passed.”
Davis said he expects the bill to be passed by the state Senate by the end of the month and signed into law by June. It’s the third time the tribe has been successful asking Davis to request gambling expansions, including allowing table games and permitting construction of a second and third casino in the state; the tribe has not yet built a third facility.
Davis said the measure would not allow online or mobile betting. Like other tribes around the country, the Eastern Band prefers only permitting in-person sports betting at its casinos. “I’m in favor of restricting it, and that’s why my bill will not allow an app. The Eastern Band came to me with this proposal, and that’s what they wanted. They’re not interested in expanding it at this time, and probably have no interest in expanding in the future,” Davis said.
Although he’s aware of people who are against gambling, Davis said he doesn’t expect difficulty getting the measure passed. “I know some people won’t vote for it because they have moral objections to wagering, but I don’t think it will be many. I’m not a fan of it myself, but it’s a legal enterprise and people aren’t forced to do it, so the Libertarian in me says to have at it.”
Davis added, “You’re not going to un-ring that bell because they already have casinos. This is just a small addendum to what they’re already doing. Table games and slot machines and all those ancillary gambling opportunities are already legal in this state. This just expands it to cover sports wagering already deemed to be legal. The Eastern Band has been incredibly vigilant, been good stewards of the money.”
State Senate Leader Phil Berger supports the legislation. He said, “It would be limited to the boundary, and someone who wanted to participate actually had to be physically present in wagering on sports. I have no problem with it. I think it would be perfectly appropriate as something we can look at and see how it works if it is ultimately authorized.”
Davis said state Rep. Kevin Corbin, whose district also includes Cherokee, soon will introduce a companion bill in the House.
