North Carolina video gambling machine legislation could resurface this year, top lawmakers say

As North Carolina's General Assembly gears up for its upcoming legislative session, the prospect of authorizing additional casinos in the state seems to have diminished, according to top lawmakers. However, discussions this week hint at a potential resurgence in efforts to regulate video gambling machines in the spring.

Last year, lawmakers considered a comprehensive package that would have allowed for the construction of four new casinos statewide and the licensing of gambling machines through the state lottery commission.

However, the proposal hit a roadblock in September when House conservatives and Democrats opposed a move by Senate Republicans to include the gambling provisions in the two-year budget with little public review.

Senate leader Phil Berger, a vocal proponent of creating casinos to stimulate job growth and generate revenue in rural areas, indicated on Wednesday that he has no immediate plans to push for casino legislation during the work session scheduled to commence in late April.

He said he did not have a conversation with any member "that leads me to believe that somebody is going to champion moving forward with the idea."

House Speaker Tim Moore echoed Berger's sentiments, noting that there has been more talk about reintroducing legislation this year specifically focused on video lottery terminals, which garnered more support from his colleagues compared to other aspects of the 2023 gambling package. The 2023 bill "just kind of went totally off the rails," remarked Moore.

Moore suggested that more lawmakers may be inclined to authorize video machines, likening them to the modernization of scratch-off lottery games. A fiscal analysis conducted by General Assembly staff on the video machine component of the 2023 gambling package projected potential annual revenue of over $400 million for the state by mid-2028.

However, Berger cautioned that there might not be sufficient time to navigate through the legislative process during the upcoming session, which typically lasts only two or three months in even-numbered years. "Some of that may need a little more runway than what we'll have for the short session," Berger noted.

The potential revival of gambling-related legislation is expected to reignite opposition from a coalition of Christian conservatives and liberal lawmakers, who warn against the adverse effects of gambling addiction on families and children.

Currently, North Carolina is home to three casinos operated by two American Indian tribes. Additionally, the state lottery expanded its offering of online games, or digital instants, in November, while legalized sports betting is set to commence on March 11, following separate legislation approved and signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper earlier in 2023.