Supporters of legalized gambling say NC residents already bet on games :: WRAL.com – WRAL.com

Legal betting on sports in North Carolina is closer to reality.

ACC POLICY >>> AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A HUGE POLITICAL CONTROVERSY AND FAIRLY PASSED. TODAY IT DID NOT GET DEBATE. WHAT CHANGED IN THE MEANTIME? IN 2018, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED STATES HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEGALIZE GAMBLING. SINCE THEN, ONLINE SPORTS BETTING SITES PROLIFERATED AND MORE THAN 20 STATES LEGALIZED IT. NORTH CAROLINA COULD BE NEXT. >> PROHIBITION DOES NOT WORK. >> Reporter: SENATOR JIM PERRY SAYS PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DOING AND HE THINKS IT COULD BE A NEW REVENUE SOURCE. >> IT IS A VOLUNTARY TAX FROM PEOPLE ALREADY TAKING PLACE IN THAT MARKET. CHOOSING TO SPEND MONEY THAT WAY. I BELIEVE I OWE IT TO THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT TO FIND ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: THE FAMILY POLICY COUNCIL THINK THAT IS A BIG MISTAKE. THE BILL WOULD MAKE ONLINE BETTING AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE. >> CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AND OVERALL POPULATION WOULD BE OVERCOME WITH ADVERTISEMENTS AND PROMOTIONS THAT ARE PUSHING GAMBLING ON OUR CITIZENRY AND WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS A GOOD IDEA. >> Reporter: 16 SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, MORE THAN HALF. SENATE LEADER PHIL BERGER USUALLY DOES NOT ALLOW A VOTE ON A BILL UNLESS THE MAJORITY OF HIS CAUCUS SUPPORTED BUT HE MADE AN EXCEPTION THIS TIME. >> THE CHAMBER, GOOD MAJORITY OF FOLKS IN FAVOR OF IT, SOMETHING TALKED ABOUT FOR A WHILE. FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW THE CHAMBER TO WORK ITS WILL. >> Reporter: HE WAS SURPRISED BY THE DECISION BUT SAYS THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AND POWER BEHIND THE BILL. >> I DON'T CALL INTO QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OF ANY OF OUR LEGISLATORS. BUT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT INTERESTS AT HAND HERE. >> Reporter: THE BELL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. HOUSE LAWMAKERS HAVE NOT TAKEN IT UP YET. THEY TALK ABOUT CHANGES THEY WANT TO MAKE TO MAKE SURE THE STATE GETS A BIGGER CUT OF THE MONEY.

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Supporters of legalized gambling say NC residents already bet on games :: WRAL.com - WRAL.com