North Carolina Debates Gambling
Like other states within the US, North Carolina is debating legalizing video sweepstakes games. Governor Beverly Perdue signed a new law that banned sweepstakes games in the state. It seemed like decisive action making the hobby illegal and changing the climate of online gambling. Now, the governor seems to have backtracked a bit by confirming that she would be willing to hear proposals on legalizing video poker. Part of the issue is that legislators in North Carolina want to reform the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control methods and part of that starts with reworking gambling. The ban on tradition poker machines was the governor’s first step in controlling alcohol and by no means is she done with the issue. It will take time for legislators to adopt the adequate rules that change the world of gambling. But now that the governor seems more open to new ideas, that changes things entirely.
Almost every state is debating the issue of online gambling and trying to implement some way of capitalizing on the millions of tax-revenue dollars involved. If one thing is for sure, people will gamble. This was proven with the UIGEA that caused millions of US gamers to move to offshore companies for their gambling needs. It cost the US billions of dollars and was a mistake that won’t be lived down any time soon. Now, states are all coming together to try to write laws that legalize and regulate gambling. They know that it is a lucrative pastime and their suffering budgets can surely benefit from it. Since the recession, people have suffered and so have state and county budgets. Now they are hoping that the new legislation they come up with regarding gambling might help to shore up diminished state coffers and help them to overcome the huge deficits they are trying to manage.
It will take time for North Carolina and the governor to come up with a viable legislation to manage online gambling, but most likely it will happen. With the Governor’s newfound willingness to look at new rules, it seems as if gambling is just a matter of a few months away for residents of the state.
Tags: gambling, legislation, North Carolina, Perdue
