Legal online sports betting launched in North Carolina on March 11, with eight betting apps going live in the Tar Heel State.

It was ideal timing for the basketball-crazed state, and bettors wagered tens of millions of dollars in the first week of legal online betting. With North Carolina’s legislative session beginning next month, it begs the question: What’s next for North Carolina gambling?

Last year, a push to legalize commercial casinos came up short, but it’s likely casino expansion will be a hot topic during the 2024 legislative session. The state has tribal casinos, but no legal commercial casino gaming.

It’s also possible a push for online casino legalization ramps up in 2024.

Online casino gaming next?

Representative Jason Saine penned an op-ed about the benefits of legalizing online casinos in 2023.

“My fellow lawmakers continue to debate what gaming expansion looks like, but limiting this discussion to just brick-and-mortar casinos is a lot like building new movie theaters without allowing people to stream movies on their mobile devices,” Saine wrote in the Charlotte Observer.

Even with Saine’s public support for online casino gaming, there wasn’t much push for mobile casino apps during the legislative session. That could change in the coming years.

Bill Pascrell III, partner at the Princeton Public Affairs Group, expects North Carolina gambling expansion to come eventually. He says online casino legalization might happen after the state adjusts to legal mobile sports betting, though.

“I think North Carolina is one of those states where they need to get a year under their belt for sports betting, online and retail,” Pascrell told US Bets.

If an online casino push doesn’t materialize in 2024, focus could shift to commercial casino expansion. Casinos in Virginia, particularly Caesars Virginia in Danville, have attracted some North Carolina residents to cross the border to visit the location. Some North Carolina legislators want to see the potential tax revenue stay in their state, rather than benefitting Virginia.

A desire to keep tax dollars within state lines could be a catalyst for commercial casino expansion in 2024.

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