A bill aimed at legalizing sports betting in North Carolina fails after losing a vote in the House of Representatives. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Not enough support
A bill to legalize sports betting in North Carolina has stalled. The House voted 51-50 against Senate Bill 688 on Wednesday.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential dangers
A number of lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential risks of expanding gambling. They believe that legal sports betting would lead to a sharp rise in gambling addicts, which in turn could lead to increased levels of debt, embezzlement and theft.
Earlier on Wednesday, a supplemental bill focused primarily on taxing sports betting revenue passed the House of Representatives after a 51-50 vote. Both projects, which were progressing in parallel, needed a pass to bet to get the green light. Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper confirmed that he would sign sports betting legislation if it came to his office.
Legalization unlikely in 2022
As I mentioned AP . newsThe failure of Senate Bill 688 means that North Carolina will likely lose legal sports betting this year. Representative Jason Sign said the NC betting dream “isn’t quite dead” in the current legislative session, but that the June 30 session deadline is fast approaching.
With many neighboring states adopting sports betting, North Carolina lawmakers will likely try to pass legislation again next year if no action is taken in the coming days. Neighboring Tennessee and Virginia have offered legal sports books for some time.
Currently, 28 states have some type of personal betting on offer, as well as Washington, DC.
Nearly a fifth of the 120-member House of Representatives did not participate in sports betting-related votes on Wednesday.
What could have been
NC betting proponents maintain that state residents are already placing sports bets through the black market. Therefore, they claim that the state should legalize the activity to reap the benefits. North Carolina is the ninth largest state in the United States, which means that it will be an important market for betting.
Senate Bill 688 has sought to issue up to twelve online sports betting licenses. It would allow betting on professional sporting events, as well as horse races taking place out of state. The launch date is set for January.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians launched retail sports betting in March 2021 at two of its North Carolina casinos as a result of an updated tribal gaming agreement.
