On the same day that Republican Senate leader Phil Berger confirmed the mobile North Carolina sports betting bill will be in the Senate next week, it appears a key player in Raleigh is on board with wagering going forward.
That’s because House Speaker Rep. Timothy K. Moore of Cleveland County resolved an issue surrounding his past life as a tribal gaming attorney that prevented him from voting on wagering bills over the last two sessions.
While the N.C. House has already passed the state’s sports betting bill (HB-347) by a 64-45-1 vote, Moore’s change of face could come in handy as soon as next week, when sports betting could come back to the lower chamber before the legislature’s sine die at the end of August.
The North Carolina General Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee confirmed Moore’s ability to vote on future wagering bills without worrying about conflicts of interest on Tuesday, when the collective’s two leaders (Sen. Norman Sanderson and Rep. Grey Mills) confirmed that the Republican lawmaker could do so without issue.
Where N.C. Betting Bill Stands Right Now
Despite the state’s House voting to pass sports betting in late March, little has been done in the nearly 50 days since HB-347 cleared the chamber.
Rep. Jason Saine, who sponsored HB-347 ahead of the chamber’s 2023 session, assuaged any fears over the bill’s chances last month, telling BetCarolina.com that the Senate has ample time to put something together before sine die.
What HB-347 Does (And Doesn’t) Include
Under HB-347, anywhere from 10-to-12 online sports betting licenses would be issued, with a tax rate of 14% on all wagers.
A total of $3 million would be earmarked for 10 colleges and universities, to be divided equally so each institution receives $300,000. Those 10 schools are: Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State, North Carolina Central, North Carolina at Asheville, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, Western Carolina and Winston-Salem State.
The state would also earmark $2 million to programs designed to address and prevent problem gambling. And $1 million would go to the North Carolina Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council, which would be money distributed as grants.
The rest of the tax money would be divided annually thus: 50% for the state General Fund, 30% to the North Carolina Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund (with the goal of drawing special events such as golf tournaments and auto races) and 20% for the institutions of higher learning listed above to support their athletic programs.
Keep it here at BetCarolina as we cover the road to North Carolina sports betting apps.
Once legalized, we will also provide up-to-date reviews on various sportsbooks in the state, and info about their promotions. This will include the DraftKings North Carolina promo code and many others.
