iGaming Lobbyists Push for Online Casinos in North Carolina

Article by : Erik Gibbs Aug 21, 2023

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North Carolina will soon be open to online sports betting and fast lottery games, all easily accessible via users’ phones and through top online gaming apps. The approval has led to multiple questions for supporters who want to see online casino apps in the state.

Advocates for online sports betting and online casinos are now asking state legislators to include these proposals in a late-session plan. This would trigger the initial steps the state needs to take to authorize commercial casinos and video lottery terminals.

To Scott Ward, vice president of the Sports Betting Alliance, no question that bringing up the conversation of online gaming providers is just part of the natural course similar proposals tend to lead states to.

Sports betting apps remain some of the only gaming providers, including casinos. Icasinos, now used for online and mobile casino gambling terminals, are legal only in six states. These states include Delaware, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

In addition to considering permitting four more casinos in the state’s rural areas, lawmakers in North Carolina are also considering authorizing video lottery terminals. These terminals would make the service available to all residents across the state. Casinos might be examined, according to Senate leader Phil Berger.

What Berger mentioned is essential is to have initial conversations about allowing such gaming modalities in the state. Berger mentioned that he is aware of specific topics, such as the location of new casinos and the effects that casinos might have on what could become a saturated online gambling market in the state.

North Carolina’s legalization of online sports betting is still in progress. The North Carolina Lottery Commission’s approval to have gaming providers offer their digital games is also underway. Both propels are scheduled to be reviewed by November 2024.

While online casinos would allow state locals to access an entire repertoire of games throughout its territory, many legislators believe that this process might still take time. Some even propose that state authorities might only attempt to legalize specific gaming dynamics, not just the full range of casino games.

Gaming providers could account for over $300 million in tax income to the state if approved. According to various legislators, the advantage is that this sum would come only from gaming providers, leaving physical casinos out of the conversation and without the need to wait for these to be built.

The lottery commission predicted the state would earn over $415 million from digital instant games in five years. However, legislators believe that the concerns about the effects of digital gaming on the state also need to be revised before any sudden proposals are brought to the table.