Poll Reveals Casino Expansion Welcome in North Carolina

Article by : Erik Gibbs Feb 12, 2024

• 
• 

According to a recent online poll conducted by Meredith College, a clear majority, comprising 57% of North Carolinians, expressed support for the legalization of commercial casinos. On the other hand, 35% of respondents opposed the expansion of brick-and-mortar casinos, while the remaining participants remained undecided on the matter.

Conducted from January 26 to 31, the online poll gathered insights from 760 registered voters in North Carolina. The state currently hosts two operational tribal casinos, and attempts to introduce commercial casinos faced obstacles during the legislative session in 2023.

It is anticipated that the discussion surrounding the legalization of commercial casinos will resurface in 2024, coinciding with the beginning of the state’s legislative session in April. Starting on March 11, the landscape of legal gambling options in North Carolina will expand with the introduction of online sports betting.

This development will provide residents with additional avenues for engaging in lawful gambling activities.

Notable betting operators, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, are set to participate in North Carolina’s burgeoning online betting market.

David McLennan, a professor of political science and the director of the Meredith Poll, observed in a statement that the majority of North Carolinians appear to be accustomed to all forms of gambling.

Thus, supporting casino gambling in the state is not deemed unusual. He underscored the state’s familiarity with various gambling activities, such as the lottery and the recent introduction of online sports wagering, contributing to a heightened level of acceptance.

Additionally, McLennan highlighted the prevalence of casino gambling in neighboring states, suggesting that individuals who may have held objections in the past are increasingly recognizing the inevitability of diverse forms of gambling.

The prospect of brick-and-mortar casino expansion in North Carolina is likely to spark heightened discourse about the legalization of online casinos in the foreseeable future.

Representative Jason Saine, a key figure in advancing legislation for mobile sports betting in 2023, expressed his views on iCasino legalization in an opinion article published in the Charlotte Observer last year.

In the article, Saine underscored the importance and pertinence of iCasino legalization, drawing an analogy that conveyed the idea that confining the discussion solely to brick-and-mortar casinos is akin to constructing new movie theaters without permitting people to stream movies on their mobile devices.

A significant portion of the recent discourse surrounding betting in North Carolina centers on the launch of online sports betting. However, as the state gears up for its 2024 legislative session, it anticipates debates concerning the expansion of various forms of gambling.