Legislation that will bring online sports betting sites to the Tar Heel State is poised to pass the North Carolina legislature and become the law of the land.
Members of North Carolina’s House of Representatives voted Tuesday by a 67-42 margin to concur with changes the state’s Senate made to a legal sports betting bill. Another approval is needed and could come as early as Wednesday following any further debate on the matter.
“There were a few changes, many that we talked about here in the chambers before it went over to the Senate,” noted Rep. Jason Saine, one of the main backers of the bill, during Tuesday’s House sitting.
The latest nod from the House means both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly are on track to pass an identical version of the legislation, which could then head to the desk of Gov. Roy Cooper, who seems certain to sign the bill into law. As a result, North Carolina sports betting could include mobile operators as early as January 8 of next year, the earliest possible start allowed by the legislative measure.
A few tweaks to consider
The latest version of House Bill 347 will authorize online and retail sportsbooks in the state, the latter of which would be in addition to three tribal casinos that currently offer event wagering on their properties. The new brick-and-mortar facilities would need to be located at or near eight professional sports venues, such as PNC Arena, home of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes.
Residents will have to be 21 or older and physically located in the state to wager on the professional, college, amateur, and esports markets offered by operators. H.B. 347 would also enable live and simulcast pari-mutuel wagering on horse races in the state.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission will oversee legal sports betting in the state, and award as many as 12 mobile wagering licenses to operators, according to H.B. 347. Bookmakers will pay a $1-million fee for their five-year licenses and an 18% "privilege" tax on their gross revenue. One of the changes the Senate made to the bill was to boost the proposed tax rate from 14%.
Proceeds from sports betting will go to a new "North Carolina Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund," which, as its name suggests, will be used to attract major events to the state with grant money.
Another $2 million would go annually to the state's Department of Health and Human Services for gambling-addiction programs, $1 million for youth sports grants, and $300,000 a year or more for several state colleges to help support their athletic programs.
