Online Casino Play Isn’t Coming To North Carolina Anytime Soon

Article by : Richard Janvrin Aug 26, 2023

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Well, online casino play isn’t coming to North Carolina anytime soon.

“Not a chance in hell,” Sen. Jim Perry told PlayUSA.

According to WRAL, a Raleigh-based news station, there have been efforts to get an online casino platform included in a North Carolina gambling expansion, if they opted for it, during this session. 

The state recently legalized online sports betting and parimutuel wagering and commented about commercial casinos and video lottery terminals but nothing regarding online casino play. 

Senator Jim Perry said no conversations of the sort have been brought up. 

“I would vote ‘no’ and work hard to bring others with me,” Perry said of online casinos.

His “no” is crucial because he strongly advocates online sports betting. He claims his decision is based on the lack of jobs and economic development it would bring to the state. 

“There are no jobs created in the state. There are no entertainment districts created. No development provides a recurring ad valorem revenue stream.”

Scott Ward, the vice president of the Sports Betting Alliance, a group that includes FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Fanatics, pitched the inclusion of it to WRAL.

“It’s a natural fit and should be included in the conversation,” Ward told WRAL. “If you’re going to [do] more gaming legislation, it makes sense to include this. This is where the consumer is now.”

WRAL did manage to get comments on the matter from Senate President Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore. 

Berger said, “One of the things that we have to be cognizant of, and I think we’re thinking about this in terms of where in North Carolina potential casinos would be located, is the idea of some sort of market saturation and whether or not the more that you have on the phone that looks like a slot machine and acts like a slot machine, do you diminish the expectation that you have as far as the revenue is concerned from other things we’re considering.”

Berger did side with Perry in that online casino play wouldn’t bring jobs to the state. 

Moore commented about needing more certainty about consumer protections regarding online casino play. 

“I’ve got real concerns with the iGaming right now,” Moore told WRAL. “I do. I need to hear more data to know 100% where I am. But everything I hear right now causes concerns.”

As of August 2023, online casino play in The Tar Heel State will require much more support before residents and visitors can expect to play their favourite casino games from their mobile devices.