North Carolina saw its first legal sports betting venue opened yesterday at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Murphy. Despite two different locations, the venue is known as “The Book” and will feature the same betting features for customers.
Finally open for business
The Book opened nearly two years after the Senate approved, in April 2019, the state’s tribal sports betting bill, which federally authorises the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to offer sports betting under the Class III gaming activity at both of its casinos.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has partnered with the world’s biggest bookmaker William Hill to bring sports betting to the state and open The Book at both of its Harrah’s Cherokee Casino sites in Cherokee and Murphy, close to the Tennessee border.
The perfect time to launch
The launch could not have been planned any better. “We are excited to offer legal sports betting at The Book, and just in time for March Madness” said Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Richard Sneed.
As a reminder, March Madness is a period of March when the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament is going on. If this season the University of North Carolina and Duke University are not title contenders, there is no doubt that March Madness will put North Carolina in a good place to start in sports betting.
Richard Sneed also thanked their partners at William Hill and Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, as well as members of the state “for making this opening possible”.
What’s next?
In September 2019, legislators in North Carolina also passed a sports betting expansion study bill examining a potential expansion of sports betting and the creation of a new regulatory body called the North Carolina Gaming Commission.
Finally, in a recent announcement, the acquisition of William Hill by Las Vegas casino operator Caesars was contested by investment management fund HBK Investments (HBK). The deal is worth $4.03bn.
Make sure to pay attention to this evolving market in North Carolina.
