North Carolina Lawmaker Says Mobile Sports Betting Issue “Ready for Primetime”

• NC Mobile Sports Betting Proponent Rep. Jason Saine to File Bill This Session

• Some State Lawmakers Who Voted “No” Last Time Now Willing to Vote “Yes”

• Retail Sports betting in North Carolina is a $1.7 Billion Industry

NC Mobile Sports Betting Proponent Rep. Jason Saine to File Bill This Session

If you enjoy legal sports betting in North Carolina, you best have access to a vehicle because currently that state only has a retail option for wagering, so be prepared to travel to one of the tribal casinos scattered about the Old North State where the mobile market is still unavailable.

That could change, according to Raleigh’s WNCN, that news outlet reporting that longtime proponent of legal sports betting, state Rep. Jason Saine, has plans to a file related bill during this current legislative session that began last week and will run through the end of August.

When similar legislation was debated last session, WNCN reports that one major sticking point was whether to allow gambling on college sports, a practice that most of the over thirty states with legal sports betting allow for their residents but to which some Tar Heel lawmakers object.

Except that Carolinian bettors are already gambling on college sports, just using illegal bookies, unregulated offshores sportsbooks, and neighboring states to do it, and according to Rep. Jason Saine, that is costing North Carolina money, telling WNCN:

“More people are more familiar with [sports betting], and they’re also more familiar with the fact that we’re still losing money to other states. So, I think that’s something that will resonate. I think we’re in a different place. We were so close last year.”

That’s a reference to what happened (or more like didn’t happen) during the previous legislative session.

Some State Lawmakers Who Voted “No” Last Time Now Willing to Vote “Yes”

Last year, a bill that would have legalized mobile betting on professional, collegiate, amateur, and electronic sports failed by a single vote, but Rep. Saine told WNCN that since then those in favor have been searching for ways to compromise with those against, saying:

“We spent a long time last session, really over the course of two years, working with all the stakeholders trying to get the changes in and getting agreement. I think this is something that’s ready for primetime, really just shortly after we get into session.”

That is good news for North Carolina bettors who are already enjoying the retail version of that market.

Retail Sports betting in North Carolina is a $1.7 Billion Industry

North Carolina is home to multiple pro and collegiate teams that residents have enjoyed watching and betting on while generating a $1.7 billion handle via the retail market alone according to WNCN.

The truth is that mobile sports betting on pro and collegiate events is already being done by North Carolinians, just not in a way that can be regulated or taxed by the state, a missed financial opportunity that Rep. Saine wants to legally address, telling WNCN:

“The whole point of [legalizing mobile sports betting] is making sure that we’re not losing those dollars to other states. Because if you’re not allowing college betting, they’re just going to go to the other states, which they’re doing now, and place those bets.”

Rep. Sain and his colleagues have until August to reach a compromise on the mobile sports betting issue, so keep checking back here for all the latest news and updates on this unfolding story.