North Carolina teams, venues now want their own sports gambling licenses — a change from previous legislation

North Carolina teams, venues now want their own sports gambling licenses — a change from previous legislation

Article brief provided by WRAL-TV
  • Brian Murphy, WRAL-TV
January 14, 2023 1:22 PM
  • Brian Murphy, WRAL-TV
  • North Carolina

Supporters of legalizing online sports gambling are confident they have the votes to pass a bill this session, just months after failing by a single vote on the House floor.

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However, a coalition of North Carolina professional sports teams — big backers of legalization — are seeking changes that would aid their bottom lines but could splinter the stakeholder group that has supported legislation for nearly three years.

The teams want eight of 12 operator licenses available in the state to be allocated to them. Last year’s failed legislation outlined an application process for mobile gambling operators to secure 10 to 12 licenses.

“It gives us a better opportunity to maximize the revenue,” Carolina Hurricanes team president Don Waddell told WRAL.