NC Family Staff | March 29, 2023 | SHARE: 
The North Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill this afternoon that would legalize sports gambling in North Carolina. HB 347—Sports Wagering passed the chamber by a vote of 64-45. In short, the bill would authorize state-sanctioned gambling on amateur, collegiate, electronic, and professional sports and would turn every phone, tablet, computer, and smart TV in the state into a legal gambling device.
Bill opponents offered 17 different amendments to the bill during floor debate on Tuesday and Wednesday to address what they considered to be the most egregious portions of the bill, but none of these amendments were adopted.
The following State House members voted “NO” on the sports gambling bill. (If you know them, or if they represent your county, please click on their name(s) below to access their individual member webpages and call them to say Thank You for standing firm against this harmful bill.)
Republicans: Jay Adams (R-Catawba); Dean Arp (R-Union); Kristin Baker (R-Cabarrus); Jennifer Balkcom (R-Henderson); Brian Biggs (R-Randolph); Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke); William Brisson (R-Bladen); Mark Brody (R-Union); George Cleveland (R-Onslow); Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin); Jeff Elmore (R-Wilkes); Julia Howard (R-Davie); Frank Iler (R-Brunswick); Neal Jackson (R-Moore); Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort); Donnie Loftis (R-Gaston); Howard Penny (R-Harnett); Joseph Pike (R-Harnett); Mark Pless (R-Haywood); Larry Potts (R-Davidson); Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance); John Sauls (R-Lee); Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba); Phil Shepard (R-Onslow); Frank Sossamon (R-Granville); Bill Ward (R-Pasquotank); Diane Wheatley (R-Cumberland); Donna White (R-Johnston); Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth). Grey Mills (R-Iredell) voted against the bill on Tuesday, but had an excused absence on Wednesday.
Democrats: Eric Ager (D-Buncombe); John Autry (D-Mecklenburg); Cynthia Ball (D-Wake); Mary Belk (D-Mecklenburg); Allen Buansi (D-Orange); Deb Butler (D-New Hanover); Maria Cervania (D-Wake); Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford); Abe Jones (D-Wake); Tim Longest (D-Wake); Marcia Morey (D-Durham); Garland Pierce (D-Scotland); Lindsey Prather (D-Buncombe); Amos Quick (D-Guilford); Caleb Rudow (D-Buncombe); Julie von Haefen (D-Wake)
NC Family would especially like to thank Reps. John Autry, Cynthia Ball, Deb Butler, Maria Cervania, Pricey Harrison, Tim Longest, Marica Morey, Garland Pierce, Lindsey Prather, and Julie von Haefen for opposing the bill and offering amendments. We would also like to thank Reps. Jay Adams, Jimmy Dixon, Abe Jones, Keith Kidwell, and John Sauls for speaking in opposition to the bill on the House floor.
House Bill 347 now proceeds to the State Senate for consideration.
