Gambling Laws In North Carolina
With so many federal laws in place across the country such as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and the Federal Wire Act, North Carolina gambling laws make the activity an even more dicey subject. Federal legislation clearly makes it illegal for anyone to gamble where a profit is made off of others by facilitating bets and engaging in the business of gambling is highly criminalized. What the laws do not do however, is go after the casual and social bettors who may gamble with small amounts of money as a hobby among friends.
Even with these all-encompassing U.S. laws, there is much space left for each individual state to form their own detailed laws in regards to gambling. North Carolina is one such state with a rich history of taking anti-gambling measures in its legislation since the days of being a British colony. This page is designed to help residents in the Tar Heel state successfully interpret their state's legislation and to safely and legally gamble if they so wish without violating the law.
North Carolina is unfortunately a state with a long track record of heavy anti-gambling laws as gambling is prohibited not only as a business but also as a hobby. While engaging in the facilitation of bets is a felony, the simple act of wagering is a misdemeanor and could spell 1-60 days of community service if prosecuted. The good news is that authorities have not gone after and punished anyone for gambling since the early days of World War II. It appears that, as is the case with federal law, North Carolina wishes to fry the big fish who operate illegal gambling rings with large sums of money and leave the minnows to the pond.
To put it bluntly, the pages of the gambling laws in North Carolina are long and detailed about the operation of a gambling business and how it is a serious class H felony to commit such acts. Proprietors who offer gambling in any way within their establishments are sure to face prison time and swift punishment from authorities. When it comes to the act of just gambling, the legislation is but only a few words. "any person or organization that operates any game of chance or any person who plays at or bets on any game of chance at which any money, property or other thing of value is bet, whether the same be in stake or not, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. This paragraph is far less intimidating than the novel written up for operators of a gambling scheme and social gamblers may be indeed just fine to wager among friends discreetly and quietly behind closed doors while authorities have more important things on their plate.
North Carolina gaming regulations are all-encompassing with the different forms of gambling whether applying it to casino games, poker games or even sports betting. While the state does have a lottery system and charitable bingo games and raffles, residents will find little more beyond that. There is only one federally recognized Native American tribe in the state who operates a legal casino under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, exempt from state laws. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians operates a unique casino in the sense that they must comply with certain state laws in the games that they offer. All games must include the element of skill rather than chance and live poker has recently made it into that realm of definition.
Land-Based Gambling In North Carolina
The state of North Carolina harbors only one solitary establishment for legal land based gambling. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians operate Harrah's Cherokee in Cherokee and are the sole providers of gambling entertainment in the entire state. They are not entirely immune to North Carolina's regulations however, as all of their games must include an element of skill for players. In the 15,000 square feet of Harrah's, players may play table games, live poker and slot machines as well as even purchase an alcoholic beverage which is another taboo subject for regions of North Carolina. One thing that residents won't find at the one lone casino in North Carolina is sports betting as the casino is unable to provide all of the major forms of gambling and hope that North Carolina laws relax in the coming years.
Online Gambling In North Carolina
For North Carolina residents who are unable to make the trip to the one and only legal gambling establishment in the region, it may feel hopeless to place a bet in a game of poker or on their favorite sports team or player. There is however, one option that remains without mention in the state's legislature and that is the realm of the internet and how it pertains to gambling. Online gambling has zero mention in the language of the law in North Carolina which leaves residents having to refer back to federal law to discover what is and what is not allowed. One may not engage in the business of gambling but nowhere is it written that a citizen may not place a bet, wager or gamble. So long as locals are not standing to make a profit or running their own online gambling site, they may place bets legally. All that a resident must be sure to do is patronize a North Carolina gambling site which is based outside of U.S. jurisdiction and capable of facilitating bets. There is a wide selection of services available which have been catering to an American audience for decades and they are indeed safe, reliable and stand as legitimate businesses with strong endorsements from residents across the country.
Popular Gambling Options In North Carolina:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
Out of the many legal online gambling sites, some stand above the rest for customer satisfaction. Bovada.lv is one such site which has been in business for decades located to our north in Canada. They began as an American company only to pick up shop and move due to changing federal laws but continue their dedication to running a top notch site for American users. All of the major forms of gambling are available including sports betting, horse racing, casino games and poker.
This online gambling site boats one of the finest designs either for the home computer or a mobile device as players are able to wager on anything at anytime, anywhere. Bovada also offers wonderful perks to its members as a thank you for choosing them over other online gambling sites. For instance, at Bovada's poker rooms, members can score a 200% bonus each and every time they refer a friend to join them at the tables worth up to $100, as many times as desired. This stands for an endless supply of free chips to toss in the pot and those in the Tar Heel state can finally kick back and enjoy a legal hand of Texas Hold'em without fear of punishment.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
Those living in North Carolina will not want to further complicate the already complicated legal issue of gambling by gambling underage. In North Carolina, the age is 21, and we strongly recommend waiting until one is of age before taking up gambling. For more on gambling ages and potential penalties, check our page here.
Best For All Gaming Types
