North Carolina Closer to Flip-Flopping on PokerBill to Legalize Live Table Games Passes Senate Wednesday |
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On Wednesday, lawmakers in North Carolina approved a bill that would authorize the state’s only casino — the Harrah’s Cherokee near the Tennessee border — to offer traditional live table games, including poker, instead of just the electronic version.
The casino currently has automated poker tables that spread a handful of limits.
Currently, live dealer-based poker is illegal everywhere in the state. Historically, North Carolina, which views poker as a game of chance, has aggressively cracked down, sometimes violently, on underground games. The legislation would not change laws pertaining to home games.
The bill passed out of the Senate by a margin of 33-14, with three abstentions. It now goes to the House. Both bodies are controlled by Republicans.
The reasoning behind the measure is to put more revenue in the hands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the state, as well as create some jobs.
The legislation — sponsored by two Republicans and one Democrat — advances months after the state renegotiated a compact with the tribe. Under the 30-year agreement, the tribe would have exclusive rights to offer table games. In exchange, a percentage of their revenue would go toward the state’s education budget.
Professional Chris Bell, who has more than $2.5 million in lifetime tournament earnings, currently grinds the underground circuit in North Carolina. He told Card Player the games are technically illegal.
If the state were to have casino poker games, Bell said that no longer having the fear of being robbed, more so than being raided, would be a relief. According to the World Series of Poker bracelet winner, five or six underground games run in the state every single night, and every few months one is busted by police.
“This is exciting for North Carolina,” Bell added, “and the action in the [casino] games would be great.”
According to the Associated Press, the Cherokees could eventually open up satellite locations in order to offer more games. The tribe owns the casino, which is managed by Las Vegas-based giant Caesars Entertainment Corp.
Follow Brian Pempus on Twitter — @brianpempus
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