Now it's the Senate's turn to deal with sports wagering in North Carolina.
The House cleared a bill Wednesday that would allow betting on professional and college sports on mobile devices to begin in January in North Carolina, less than one year after defeating a similar bill by a single vote.
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The House voted 66-45 for legalization on Tuesday after lengthy debate and, on Wednesday, gave its final approval, 64-45.
"The overwhelming majority of people view sports betting as a form of entertainment that consenting adults should have the right to do," said Rep. Jason Saine, a Lincoln County Republican and the bill's chief proponent.
The Senate voted to allow mobile sports gambling during the last session.
HB 347 could still see some changes as it moves through Senate committees and, eventually, the full chamber.
The House defeated nine amendments, including ones to restrict advertising, raise the proposed 14% tax rate, disallow the use of credit cards to fund accounts and to remove mobile betting but allow in-person facilities at sports venues. Eight proposed amendments were defeated Tuesday.
"The operators shouldn't get tax write-offs for getting more people addicted to the platform," said Rep. Tim Longest, a Wake County Democrat, while proposing to do away deductions operators can claim for promotions or bonuses used to attract gamblers to their apps. "The argument has been made that we're missing out on revenue from folks who are already gambling. We don't need to make more gamblers."
Longest also proposed raising the tax rate to 36%, as it is in Pennsylvania for mobile sports operators. Previously, he proposed raising it to 51%, as it is in New York and New Hampshire. Saine said throughout the process that 14% was slightly above the statistical average. Virginia has a 15% rate, while Tennessee's is at 20% currently.
"We've obviously made the a decision that we want revenue, and that's fine," said Rep. Joseph Pike, a Harnett County Republican. "Why would we not take a bigger portion of the pie? I wish you would have stayed at 51%. But I would like to support the 36%. This money that's coming in is going to come at a very expensive cost in the future: addiction problems. We should maximize our revenues."
One of the defeated amendments, from Rep. Maria Cervania, a Wake County Democrat, was to study the creation gaming commission in the state. Rep. John Bell, a Wayne County Republican and one of the primary sponsors of the bill, said that he and other Republicans have interest in studying that issue, but that this legislation was not the place for it.
Sen. Jim Burgin, a Harnett County Republican who voted no on previous sports wagering legislation, filed legislation to impose a 6.75% excise tax on all wagers to be paid by the operators or those taking the bets.
For example, if gamblers bet $50 million in a month on the mobile apps, the operators would owe $3.375 million in excise tax to the state. All of that would go to the general fund under Burgin's bill.
Sports betting is not the only gambling bill in the legislature. Rep. Harry Warren, a Rowan County Republican, introduced legislation to allow video gaming terminals in bars, restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and other places where alcohol is sold.
Tax revenue generated by House Bill 512 would be used to create a community college forgivable loan program and to provide additional funding for in-state HBCUs.