North Carolina GOP Power Player Bob Luddy Urges Lawmakers to Fold on Casino Efforts
Posted on: April 8, 2026, 11:16h.
Last updated on: April 8, 2026, 11:17h.
- Bob Luddy is asking lawmakers in North Carolina to reject casino campaign money
- The influential business owner is also asking lawmakers to fold on casino legislation
A prominent Republican businessman in North Carolina is voicing his opinion that lawmakers in the state capital of Raleigh should oppose efforts to authorize casino gambling off tribal lands.
Bob Luddy is a familiar name in the Tar Heel State due to his charitable endeavors and political lobbying. Along with rejecting calls from colleagues to cosponsor or back casino bills, Luddy is asking the many Republicans he’s lent campaign money to over the years to oppose campaign money from interests tied to gambling.
North Carolina does not need casino gambling because it undermines society, and in the long run, corrupts everyone it touches. Revenue gained is not needed and will be very costly for law enforcement, the welfare state, Medicaid, and civil society,” Luddy wrote in a letter.
Luddy is the founder and owner of CaptiveAire Systems, a privately held company specializing in commercial kitchens, HVAC, electrical controls, and ductwork.
Are NC Casinos Even in Play?
North Carolina is home to three tribal casinos: Harrah’s Cherokee, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in Murphy, and Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain. Republican Phil Berger, once among the more powerful lawmakers serving as Senate President Pro Tempore, led legislation in recent years to allow commercial casinos along I-95 in rural parts of the state.
Berger’s backroom dealings with The Cordish Companies, the Baltimore-based gaming and hospitality conglomerate that operates the Live! brand, faced much criticism. County governments where Berger and Cordish were reportedly scheming to locate the Las Vegas-like resorts said they were kept in the dark.
The casino controversy likely led to Berger’s ousting. Berger lost his March 2026 Republican Primary to challenger Sam Page by just 23 votes. After several recounts, Berger conceded.
Page, the sheriff of Rockingham County, one of the counties that Berger named as a possible casino host, was backed by Luddy. Luddy had previously supported Berger’s campaigns, but his gaming willingness lost his support.
“[North Carolina is] prospering because it is a highly desirable place to live, and our economy is strong and diverse. The NC General Assembly has provided low taxes and a hospitable environment for business expansion and jobs,” Luddy reasoned.
Luddy and his wife, Maria, each donated $6,400 to Page’s campaign, the maximum allowable amount.
North Carolina Sports Betting
The only forms of commercial gambling in North Carolina are the state-run NC Education Lottery and non-tribal retail and online sports betting.
Through nine months of the state’s 2026 fiscal year (July-March), North Carolinians bet more than $5.8 billion on sports. Oddsmakers kept almost $610.5 million of the action, generating state tax revenue of nearly $109.9 million.
Seven online sportsbooks operate across the state, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, bet365, and theScore Bet.
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