Sports Betting Inches Closer To Legality In North Carolina
OXON HILL, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 09: MGM National Harbor, Governor Larry Hogan and Joe Theismann launch sports betting in Maryland with BETMGM at MGM National Harbor on December 09, 2021 in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
The topic of sports betting has been a hot topic in North Carolina for several years. In fact, the House of Representatives came within one vote of passing a bill to legalize it in 2022. But it was widely speculated that bill would resurface. And that according to our friends at
BetCarolina, the introduction of that new bill seems imminent. They quote Roy Cooper as saying “You know, I think it’s going to pass from what I hear,” Cooper said regarding online sports wagering legislation. “We’re working with trying to make sure we get good legislation that is fair to the taxpayers but also recognizes something that’s going on anyway. So, we might as well get benefit for our schools and for our state out of it. So, we’ll see how it goes.”
If and when North Carolina does decide to pass the bill, we can expect to see major national sports betting operators jump in quickly. This means opportunities to gamble with BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and more will come available.
Sports Betting Support In North Carolina
BetCarolina reports that “in a recent survey, 43% of respondents said that they would either “strongly support” or “somewhat support” the legalization of sports betting in North Carolina.” I’d say I’m in that 43% I know plenty of people who already participate, so having a more regulated and easily accessible market seems like a good thing. It’s also not something I personally will be participating in for two reasons. One the risk is greater than the reward to me in terms of any gambling. And second, if you know me, I’m already way too emotionally invested in sporting events. The absolute last thing I need is money riding on a game that I’m already extremely stressed over!
Want more info on the bill? Read the full BetCarolina article here.
North Carolina Could Be In Line To Legalize Sports Betting In 2022
It’s been four years since the Supreme Court cleared the way for legal sports betting across the United States. Could North Carolina be one of the next states to legalize sports betting? Several states including NC, are in the process of trying to legalize it. Some have already taken that action and are waiting to implement sports betting.
On Thursday, Kansas became the 31st state to take that step when Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill that legalized sports betting in Kansas. Betting could begin as soon as September, just in time for football season. The state hopes to use the money raised will be used to hopefully lure professional teams to Kansas. For one, the Kansas City Chiefs, who currently play their home games across the border in Missouri. They also hope to take advantage of betters in Missouri as the state failed to advance sports betting legislation again this year.
The Supreme Court ruling in the case of Murphy vs. NCAA, handed down on May 14, 2018, overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which had prohibited legal sports betting throughout most of the United States starting in 1992.
Once the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in 2018, New Jersey was the first to take action. Other states, including Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, soon followed. But almost 5 years later North Carolina hasn’t jumped the gun. That could be poised to change in the coming months, however.
Bookies.com created “hypothetical odds” on when bettors in each of the remaining states will be able to make legal online wagers. Here were their results:
Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.
