North Carolina by all measures is not the friendliest state in the nation towards gambling. This is not for nothing, as legal gambling still somehow seems to find its way into the Old North State, where tribal casinos, state lottery, charitable gaming, and “beach bingo” are all to be found. And with the recent legalization of sports betting and a new tribal casino project in the works, many are wondering if this is North Carolina’s way turning over a new leaf.
North Carolina Legal Gambling History
Lines drawn in the sand regarding the legality of gambling were made clear early on in North Carolina history. In 1749, North Carolina adopted an English statute that made it illegal to gamble in public and placed a cap on how much an individual could lose in a day.
In 1784, the state reluctantly overturned its anti-gambling laws in hopes to raise revenue. This made the games heavily taxed up until 1791 when all gambling became outlawed in the state. Though, the occasional good-cause lottery for fundraising purposes was permitted.
Some of North Carolina’s modern-day laws still seem to reflect the days of old. For instance, charitable gaming in the state is still strictly regulated. Licensed operators within North Carolina’s “beach bingo” circuit are under tight lock and key, where winnings may not exceed a $10 amount.
In 2006, the state lottery in North Carolina was launched, offering scratch-offs, Mega Millions, and Powerball. North Carolina was the last state on the East Coast to legalize a lottery. Traditionally, the state’s Governors have been open about their disapproval for a lottery system. The lottery was only able to make its way through by winning in a ballot vote with an extremely tight margin.
After the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was set in 1988, gaming that the Cherokee Tribes were able to offer North Carolina was severely limited to slots and video poker. However, in 2012 the state entered into an agreement with the tribe to allow for their casinos to offer live dealer games.
The most recent action to take place in North Carolina was the 2019 signing of S 154 by Governor Roy Cooper. This legislative move made sports betting legal in North Carolina. Now, we kick back and wait for the launch of two separate sportsbooks from North Carolina’s two tribal casinos.
North Carolina Gambling Legal Status
Slots, table games, and poker can be found at North Carolina’s two tribal-owned casinos. As of 2019, sports betting has become legal too, with the state’s two tribal casinos set to launch physical sportsbooks shortly. Players must be at least 21 years of age to wager at casinos and place bets on sporting events.
Bingo halls can be found all over North Carolina, a state past-time that is synonymous with helping out for a good cause. Yet, regulations are strictly enforced. North Carolina is also home to what is called “beach bingo”, which is pretty self-explanatory. It’s bingo located near the beach. The state has over 200 beach bingo operators who also find themselves under heavy regulation like their bingo hall counterparts. Beach bingo winnings may not exceed $10 in value. And if you’re 18 or older, you’re welcomed to both bingo and the state lottery.
While more and more types of gambling are becoming legal, North Carolina laws regarding them still seem strict and have even gone to the lengths of banning horse race track betting, a style of gambling which is seen as relatively harmless in the eyes of most states.
North Carolina Legal Land-Based Casinos
North Carolina is home to two tribal casinos operated by the Cherokee in conjunction with Harrah’s. These 2 casinos offer a variety of slots, poker, and table games.
North Carolina’s two Cherokee owned tribal casinos are:
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel
Outside of the Cherokee/Harrah’s offerings, the Catawba Nation is currently working on putting together a $600 million casino project in partnership with the Hard Rock Casino.
North Carolina Legal Daily Fantasy Sports and Sports Betting
Daily fantasy sports are illegal in North Carolina while sports betting legislation was recently passed. In 2019, Governor Roy Cooper signed S 154 into effect which welcomed North Carolina as the 7th state to pass a sports betting legalization. The state’s 2 tribal casinos are set to offer physical sportsbooks shortly, with a possibility for a 3rd at the future Catawba Nation/Hard Rock Casino.
North Carolina Legal Gambling FAQ’s
What am I legally allowed to bet on in the state of North Carolina?
The following forms of gambling are legal in the state of North Carolina:
- Land-based casino gaming at tribal casinos.
- Physical sportsbooks at tribal casinos.
- The state lottery which includes scratch-offs, Powerball, and Mega Millions.
- Charitable gaming such as bingo, beach bingo, and raffles.
Will North Carolina offer online gambling soon?
Despite the recent legalization of other forms of gambling, North Carolina still appears to be an anti-gambling state that is only motivated by revenue. So it seems like a likelihood. For the time being, there is nothing on the books for or against online gambling, but it hasn’t been regulated by the state either. This mean FanDuel and DraftKings will have to wait to enter the North Carolina market.
