A bill to legalize betting on sports in North Carolina passed its final vote in the General Assembly on Wednesday. The state House voted 68-45 to pass the bill and send it to the governor.

What You Need To Know

  • The North Carolina House approved a bill to legalize betting on sports in the state. The bill will now go to the governor

  • The state House and Senate already voted for the bill, giving it bipartisan support in both chambers. The Senate added horse racing to the legislation and sent it back to the House for final approval

  • The bill makes it legal for people to bet on professional, collegiate and amateur sports in North Carolina, with the exception of youth sports

  • Sports wagering would be legal one year after the bill gets final approval from the legislature and the governor

The legislation has bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly. It passed the Senate June 1 with a vote of 37-11. The bill is now in the hands of Gov. Roy Cooper, who is expected to sign it, issue a veto or allow it to become law without his signature.  

Legislators supporting the bill say sports betting is already happening in North Carolina, and this bill is a way to regulate and tax the wagers. 

Opposition to expanding gambling in North Carolina has also been bipartisan. Those opposed to the bill voiced moral and religious reasons to vote against it. 

"I’m against this bill because gambling is a predatory industry," said Rep. Abe Jones, a Wake County Democrat.

"The integrity of sports, I think we are really harming the integrity of pure sports," said Durham County Democrat Marcia Morey. "I think it’s a sad day for athletes and for people who become addicted."

The House already passed the bill legalizing sports wagering in March. The legislation had to go back to the House for final approval after the Senate added in new provisions that legalized betting on horse racing in North Carolina. 

Currently, betting on sports is only legal on tribal lands in North Carolina. A 2018 decision from the Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting. More than two dozen states have legalized sports betting since that ruling.

What’s in the bill?

The legislation makes it legal to place bets on all professional, collegiate and amateur sports (except youth sports) in North Carolina. People would be able to place bets online and at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission will be tasked with overseeing sports wagering and betting on horse racing. The bill allows for 10 to 12 companies to set up in the state to offer betting. 

Physical sportsbooks, where people can go to place wagers in person, would only be allowed near professional sporting venues, like PNC Arena in Raleigh or the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

The Senate version of the bill authorized bets on horse racing in North Carolina, both in person and televised races. 

General Assembly staff estimate revenue from sports wagering could hit $1 billion after five years. Through taxes and fees, the state is estimated to bring in more than $70 million after five years. 

Of the state’s tax revenue, more than $40 million would go to the general fund. The rest of the money would go to supporting youth sports in North Carolina, athletics programs at some UNC system schools and to help programs for gambling addiction. 

The bill also establishes a new North Carolina Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund, which will be tasked with attracting big events, like music festivals and political conventions.

Once the bill becomes law, gambling on sports and horse races would be legal after one year, giving the Lottery Commission time to get things set up.

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