North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger’s office has published a copy of a proposal that would authorize four new casinos in the state, according to a local report from CBS 17.
The new bill outlined several conditions for where the new casinos would be. One condition states that the Secretary of Administration would select three locations for potential tourism districts. Another stipulation would prohibit two casinos in one county.
Under the terms of the bill, the chosen districts cannot be closer together than 75 miles. Each casino can be operated by the same company, according to the new bill, a condition that was not included in a previous casino bill draft.
The bill also would allow for one casino to be built on Lumbee Tribal land, according to the local report.
State lawmakers and lobbyists have brought up increased casino activity across state borders as a compelling reason to allow for new casino construction in North Carolina. A similar position moved legislated to legalize sports betting last year.
Part of the motivation to open a regulated sports betting market was due to pre-existing gambling throughout the state, as well as the opportunity to provide a safe space for an already present market.
However, House Speaker Tim Moore and Governor Roy Cooper want to move forward with the budget without including state casinos and expanded gambling. Lawmakers recently met for several hours to tackle the proposed budget plans.
Although the state Senate has pushed for casino expansion and its inclusion in the new budget, the House is not on board.
