North Carolina lobbyists are encouraging legislators to add iGaming to the list of legal gambling options for players statewide, according to a WRAL News local report. This would allow players access to online casino games through their mobile devices.
Sports Betting Alliance VP, Scott Ward, explained to WRAL the reasoning behind including iGaming in North Carolina’s list of legal gambling activities.
He commented, "It's a natural fit and should be included in the conversation.”
The state recently legalized sports betting and has targeted the first of the year as an opening date for the commercial market. North Carolina regulators have also moved forward to make instant lottery games available to the public.
Once the market is established, the Lottery Commission will be permitted to award up to 12 licenses to operators statewide. Players would then have access to online and mobile betting, as well as in-person wagering.
Senate Leader Phil Berger told local news that iGaming will be a topic of discussion during the current legislative session.
He said, "There will be a conversation about it. One of the things that we have to be cognizant of, and I think we've thinking about this in terms of where in North Carolina potential casinos would be located, is the idea of some sort of market saturation and whether or not the more that you have on the phone that looks like a slot machine and acts like a slot machine."
To date, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have legalized iCasinos for their residents.
