North Carolina: Gambling legalization bill all but dead

Friday, July 1, 2022 7:22 PM
  • Brian Murphy and Travis Fain, WRAL

Time seems to have run out on efforts to pass legislation legalizing online sports gambling in North Carolina during this legislative session.

Lobbyists have been hopeful that they’d find a way to resurrect the effort after the wheels came off during a key vote last week, but by Thursday evening any optimism had faded. Key lawmakers left little room for a last-second resuscitation.

“I haven’t checked its pulse, but by all reports it doesn’t have one,” Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said after Thursday’s Senate session.

“Sports betting continues to be worked on, but I do not think it will resurface this session,” House Majority leader John Bell said earlier in the day.