NC Family Staff | May 31, 2023 | SHARE: 
UPDATE: On Thursday, June 1, the North Carolina Senate passed House Bill 347 by a vote of 37-11 during the third reading of the bill. It will now return to the House for concurrence since the Senate modified it.
This afternoon, the North Carolina Senate voted to approve HB 347—Sports Wagering/Horse Race Wagering by a vote of 38-11 during the second reading of the bill. House Bill 347 would authorize state-sanctioned gambling on amateur, collegiate, electronic, and professional sports, as well as parimutuel wagering on horse racing. The Senate will vote on the bill again tomorrow during the third reading.
NC Family testified in multiple Senate committees this week that if HB 347 is enacted into law, it would impose a massive expansion of legalized gambling on North Carolina, as it would legalize state-sanctioned sports gambling on every computer, tablet, mobile phone and smart TV in the state. It would also flood our state—and especially our children and young adults—with ceaseless advertisements and promotions for gambling on sporting events and parimutuel wagering on horse racing.
“Problem and pathological gambling manifests itself in increases in theft, embezzlement, job loss, personal bankruptcy, substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, divorce, and even suicide,” NC Family President John L. Rustin told the committees. “This is the certain result for some in our state if this bill is enacted into law.”
“And for what? Rustin asked. “The fiscal note on this bill suggests a net state impact in four years that would equate to one-tenth-of-one-percent of our current state budget.”
