North Carolina Pollster: ‘All Forms of Gambling Inevitable,’ as Survey Finds Strong Public Support

Posted on: February 18, 2025, 11:55h. 

Last updated on: February 18, 2025, 12:13h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Public support for commercial casinos in North Carolina continues to grow
  • Casinos are currently limited to tribal lands
  • North Carolina launched online sports betting in 2024

North Carolina has three tribal casinos but remains free of commercial casinos. A new poll suggests that a majority of voters in the Tar Heel State support welcoming in gaming resorts run by commercial operators like MGM Resorts.

North Carolina casinos poll sports betting
The entrance to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is seen in Murphy, NC, on Feb. 8, 2025. North Carolina tribal casinos could face commercial competition in the coming years. (Image: Shutterstock)

The February 2025 Meredith Poll from Meredith College in Raleigh reports that public support for the legalization of commercial casinos continues to increase.

The survey of 703 respondents showed that almost six in 10 (58%) likely voters support legalizing casino gambling on non-native lands. Less than a third (32%) said they were opposed to commercial casinos, with the remaining 10% undecided.

“Most North Carolinians seem accustomed to all forms of gambling, so supporting casino gambling in the state does not seem unusual,” said Meredith Poll Director David McLennan.

McLennan explained that the poll was weighted for gender, party affiliation, geographic location, race, ethnicity, and education “so that our sample most closely resembles North Carolina.”

North Carolina is currently home to Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, properties owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that are operated on the tribe’s behalf by Caesars Entertainment. Delaware North runs a temporary casino called Two Kings for the Catawba Indian Nation while construction on its permanent resort continues.

Gaming Expansion ‘Inevitable’

As is the case in many state capitals across the country, gaming has been a major subject matter in recent legislative sessions in the North Carolina General Assembly. In March 2024, North Carolina became the 30th state to launch legal sports betting.

North Carolina’s sports betting market includes both retail and mobile wagering. Sportsbooks had operated at the two Harrah’s tribal casinos since March 2021.

With commercial casinos opening in Virginia, including four on or near the North Carolina border, the issue of expanding gambling is again front and center in Raleigh during the 2025 session. Though no bills have yet been filed, the subject is being discussed in lawmakers’ chambers.

McClennan thinks it’s only a matter of time until North Carolina further expands commercial gaming.

We have the lottery and have just adopted online sports wagering in the state. Plus, many states, including those on the border of North Carolina, now have casino gambling so even citizens who might have had objections to casino gambling 20 years ago might be resigned to the fact that all forms of gambling are inevitable,” McClennan said.

The February poll found that the oldest respondents were most opposed to commercial casinos. Democrats were more supportive of commercial casinos than Republicans by 60.2% to 55.9%. Men supported the non-native casino question at a rate of 62.5% to 54.7% for women.

Sin Industry Topics

Along with commercial casinos, North Carolina lawmakers are expected to again consider medical marijuana, as public support for regulated medicinal cannabis has fielded more support in recent years. The February Meredith Poll found that 71% of North Carolinians support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for certain medical and mental conditions.

North Carolina is amid its long session. The General Assembly convened in January and the session runs through July. However, Senate bills and House bills must be filed before the end of business on March 25 and April 3, respectively. The deadline for legislation to cross from one chamber to the other is May 8.