North Carolina Casino Guide
Facts About Gambling & Online Casinos in North Carolina
Looking for an online casino in North Carolina? You’re in luck as many casinos allow players from North Carolina. If you want a land-based casino, however, you’re going to have a much tougher time. North Carolina does not have a thriving casino industry. In fact, there is only one casino in the entire state, and another will be opening soon.
History of Gambling in North Carolina
Take a glimpse back to 1982 and then current Governor Hunt made it very clear that the creation of a lottery to help fund children’s programs was not something he felt was right for the state. More than two decades later, the lottery bill would finally pass and the North Carolina Lottery was born.
Given the state’s hesitance to move forward on legalizing many forms of gambling, it’s not surprising that the growth of the casino industry has been pretty much stagnant. Governor Hunt did not want to have any casinos in the state, but the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act forced his hand. He signed a compact with the Eastern Band of Cherokees and the first tribal casino opened.
Yet, it wasn’t until 2012, that the state rewrote the compact authorizing tribal casinos to add live dealer games to their offerings. Until that point, video slots, video poker, and bingo games were pretty much all you could find. With this latest change, North Carolina finally has its first full casino.
Age Restrictions for Gambling in North Carolina
If you want to gamble at a North Carolina casino, you must be 21 or older. You also must be 21 years if you want to play in an online casino in North Carolina.
North Carolina’s Casino Gambling Outlook
With just one casino operating for so many years, the long-running suspicion that crime would increase and bring in the mob was proven false. Even with this, the government still shies from allowing more casinos into the state. The Catawba Nation has been struggling for years to build a casino on their land, but North Carolina House members stated if the proposal was sent their way, they would say no. As of January 2015, the tribe has submitted paperwork to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but so far no action has been taken.
For now, North Carolina seems happy with having just one land-based casino and the online casino games in North Carolina that are offered by Harrah’s.
Local Casinos
Harrah’s is the name behind the two Cherokee casinos in North Carolina. One is currently open, while the Valley River establishment is going to be opening in the autumn of 2015.
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort – One of the best things about Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is that they have one of the only online casinos in North Carolina. While you cannot play for real money, in between trips to the casino, you can play many of your favorite games online for fun and earn Facebook credits. When you come to the land-based casino, enjoy live dealer games like Blackjack, Craps, and Poker, and choose from a huge selection of video slots and video poker machines, too.
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Hotel & Casino – Located about two hours from Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, the Cherokee Valley Casino is going to be every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor. Expect to find table games, poker, slots, and more in this casino that’s managed by Caesar’s Entertainment.