North Carolina Governor Sees Big Picture with Mobile Sports Gambling
Not only is North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper in support of the state legalizing online sports gambling, he sees the big picture, and doesn’t want North Carolinians to miss out on the potential job opportunities.
Cooper recently said on the ACC Now Podcast.
”The issue is will North Carolina try to be on the cutting edge for the technology jobs and other employment that it will create and plus be able to get state taxpayers their cut or are we just going to let it happen all around us? I think it’s time for us to step up and do it.”
After all, bordering states Virginia and Tennessee have both legalized sports gambling since the U.S. Supreme Court ended a federal ban four years ago, and it appears likely North Carolina will follow suit with Senate Bill 688.
The Bill passed the state Senate in 2021 and should receive a house vote this year.
For reference, Virginia had a sports gambling handle of $426.6 million in December, and Tennessee’s handle was $341.8 million.
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With more than half of the U.S. states allowing sports gambling, and offshore sportsbooks available to place wagers at, Cooper feels the push to legalize and regulate the market is a sound long-term solution.
Cooper acknowledge the critics of legalized sports gambling on the podcast.
“It’s complicated, but I think there needs to be a free and open debate. We need to do what’s best for the people of North Carolina and I support the move toward it.”
The current legislation has $1 million in taxes collected from sports betting being given to the Department of Health and Human Services to support gambling addiction education and treatment programs.
Currently, in-person sports betting is legal in North Carolina’s two Cherokee casinos in the western area of the state.
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