House Votes To Expand Cherokee Gambling

Special Report - June 6, 2012
A bill that would bring Las Vegas style casinos to Western North Carolina by changing state law to allow the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to expand their gambling operations received final approval in the State House yesterday. SB 582—Authorize Indian Gaming/Revenue passed on third reading in the House by a vote of 68 to 49 on Tuesday afternoon. The vote in favor of the bill included 28 of the House’s 68 Republican members who joined 40 of the chamber’s 52 Democrat members in voting for expanded casino gambling. Eleven Democrat members joined 38 Republican members in voting against SB 582. One member, House Speaker Thom Tillis, did not vote, and two members (one Republican and one Democrat) had excused absences.

SB 582 was introduced in April by Senators Tom Apodaca (R-Buncombe), Jim Davis (R-Cherokee) and Martin Nesbitt, Jr. (D-Buncombe) in response to an amended 30 year Tribal Gaming Compact that Governor Beverly Perdue signed in November 2011 with the Cherokee. The compact would allow the tribe to expand their gambling operations to include Class III gaming, which is currently illegal in North Carolina and includes gambling machines, live table games such as craps, roulette, blackjack and poker, raffles and video gambling. While state law authorizes the governor to negotiate a new Gaming Compact with the Cherokee Indians, it cannot take effect unless the General Assembly amends the current law to “authorize additional Class III gaming activities on Indian lands.”

SB 582 now heads back to the Senate for concurrence, where it previously passed after a 33 to 14 vote on May 16, so that the chamber can consider changes made to the legislation by the House. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation today.

“The North Carolina House had an opportunity to stand up to the proponents of gambling expansion and say no to bad public policy that will ultimately result in creating more compulsive gamblers, and leave more crime, corruption and shattered families in its wake,” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “Unfortunately, the majority of the House chose not do so and voted in favor of SB 582. Ultimately, this legislation is not about creating more jobs in Western North Carolina. It is about the State continuing to rely on a predatory social vice to prey upon the least fortunate and most vulnerable in society in order to generate income. The price for bringing Las Vegas style gambling to North Carolina will be paid by those who can least afford the cost, and by their families.”

Related resources:
House Tentatively Approves Gambling Expansion - June 1, 2012
Gambling Resources - NCFamily.org
Gambling Bill Constitutionally Flawed - May 25, 2012
Senate Expands Cherokee Gambling - May 17, 2012
Legislators Return To Raleigh - May 15, 2012
Playing To Lose - FNC - Spring 2012
Gambling With Families - FNC Commentary - Winter 2012
Cherokee Gambling Proposal Signed - November 29, 2011
Bringing Las Vegas to North Carolina - FNC - Fall 2011
Cherokee Want Own ABC System - May 4, 2011
Cherokee Casino Wants Expanded Alcohol Sales - November 24, 2009
Governor Considers Expanding Cherokee Casino Gambling Options - December 8, 2005
Cherokee Political Contributions Unreported - October 29, 2007
Cherokee Casino Sees Significant Growth - January 31, 2007
Senator Dole Introduces Lumbee Recognition Act - January 19, 2007
Lumbee Bill Introduced in Congress - January 10, 2007
Lumbee Bill to Get Senate Hearing - July 10, 2006
Cherokee Gambling Negotiations End - April 21, 2006

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