Gambling Compact Signed Into Law

Special Report - June 7, 2012
Legislation that will allow the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate Las-Vegas style casinos in Western North Carolina was signed into law yesterday by Governor Beverly Perdue. The governor, who negotiated a new gambling Compact with the Cherokee in November 2011, but needed the General Assembly to change current law in order for it to take effect, signed SB 582-Authorize Indian Gaming/Revenue about an hour after the Senate voted 35 to 11 on Wednesday afternoon to concur with House changes to the bill. The House approved the legislation on June 5 by a vote of 68 to 49.

The measure amends North Carolina law to allow the Cherokee to offer Class III gaming activities on Indian lands to include gambling machines, live table games such as craps, roulette, blackjack and poker, raffles and video gambling. The Cherokee have operated a casino in Western North Carolina since 1997 with limited gambling activities (such as bingo, raffles, and video-based games), but the Tribe has been pushing for the ability to offer Class III gambling, which is illegal in North Carolina, for years. “It's been a long trip for us,” Cherokee Chief Michael Hicks told the media after Governor Perdue signed SB 582 into law. “I don't think any of us realize what the impact is going to be in North Carolina.”

The Cherokee hope to begin offering Class III gambling activities as early as July 4, but the Compact is not official until the U.S. Department of the Interior approves it, which could take up to 45 days.

“This is a sad day for North Carolina,” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “What a shame that our governor and legislature continue to rely on expanded predatory gambling for additional sources of state revenue. Casino gambling brings, and creates, more addicted gamblers, as well as more crime, financial ruin, and broken families. The impact of this compact will spread beyond Western North Carolina to the rest of the State, which will ultimately bear the consequences of the negative social and economic costs.”

Related resources:
House Votes To Expand Cherokee Gambling - June 6, 1012
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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