North Carolina lawmakers are considering a draft casino bill that would allow one business to develop three casinos statewide. But campaign contributions to lawmakers from executives of the Baltimore-based casino development firm, The Cordish Cos., have raised concerns about “pay-to-play” scenarios, whereby parties fund specific business activities.

Story continues below

“It could be the tip of the iceberg of the money that is falling into political campaigns and dark money operations that will be or have been funding General Assembly candidates and politicians,” said Bob Hall, the former executive director of Democracy NC. But “it’s not illegal,” he said.

Campaign committees of at least eight lawmakers received a total of $34,400 from at least four donors linked to The Cordish Cos. from November 2022 to March 2023.