By L.A. Williams
Christian Action League
April 26, 2024
Less than two months after mobile sports betting became legal in North Carolina, gambling proponents are already pushing to make it easier to get in the game. Disappointed that no horse racing operators applied for a license prior to the May 4 Kentucky Derby, some lawmakers say they’ll look to lower the licensing fee to attract parimutuel betting.
“We’ve got a barrier to entry with the high fee,” Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln), a main sponsor of sports betting legislation, told the media. Currently, a five-year license is $1 million, or $200,000 a year, which is significantly higher than licenses in other states.
In a recent report, the N.C. Lottery Commission said that the issue “could potentially be rectified by allowing an advance deposit wagering [ADW] operator to partner with a sports wagering operator, but that likely would require a legislative amendment.”
The Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, sees the high licensing fee as a blessing.
“While some consider betting on horse races as innocent amusement, it’s crucial to acknowledge the potential detrimental effects that gambling can impose on individuals, families and communities. For those of us concerned about the proliferation of gambling in our state, the inability of North Carolinians to legally bet on the Kentucky Derby provides a sigh of relief,” he said.
“The substantial expense associated with obtaining an operator’s license, as mentioned by Rep. Saine, acts as a barrier that may ultimately shield our citizens from the perils of excessive gambling. Therefore, maintaining the current high cost for entry into the state is a prudent decision that prioritizes public well-being over financial interests.”
While the topic of gambling addiction often brings to mind images of roulette tables or video poker machines, experts say the in-depth calculations that go into horse betting may make it more enticing to someone susceptible to problem gambling. According to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, a study conducted on horse race gamblers revealed incidents of problem and pathological gambling at 39.4% and 24%, respectively.
“This is a clear indication that horse betting is just as significant a cause of problem gambling as other games of chance,” the Council reported.
Creech said lawmakers should contemplate the broader societal costs of gambling addiction, financial strain, and other adverse consequences stemming from widespread access to such betting opportunities.
“While policymakers may be tempted to pursue the financial gains derived from these activities, safeguarding the welfare of our residents should take precedence,” Creech said. “It’s imperative for state lawmakers to meticulously weigh the potential risks.”
He said the issue reminded him of Psalm 142:4: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
“This cry resonates with millions ensnared in the grip of gambling addiction. It is a sobering reminder of the profound moral responsibility we bear to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and harm,” Creech added. “Such is not Nanny-State politics, but fulfilling the divine command that we indeed are our brother’s keeper. Let us not turn a blind eye to this injustice. Instead, let us uphold our duty to safeguard the well-being of all citizens, ensuring that our actions align with principles of compassion and justice. Will we allow this cycle of exploitation and suffering to persist, or will we take a stand for what is right?”
In other gambling news, the NCAA has asked North Carolina and other states with legal sports betting to ban prop bets – wagers on certain individual stats such as rebounds or points within a game – on college athletes.
“Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes getting harassed,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a March 27 media release. “The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats and many are responding by banning college prop bets.”
Creech said North Carolina should follow suit with Louisiana, Vermont, Ohio and Maryland, who have banned prop bets on college athletics, especially since there is already evidence that athletes are being harassed.
“It’s terrible,” UNC center Armando Bacot told the media before the Tar Heels’ Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament game. “Even at the last game, I guess I didn’t get enough rebounds or something…. I looked at my DMs, and I got, like, over 100 messages from people telling me I sucked.”
The Christian Action League had warned lawmakers that legalized sports betting, which was touted as a panacea for struggling UNC-system athletic programs, would ultimately undermine college athletics.
“Sadly, we’re seeing the beginnings of this already, with gamblers harassing athletes over their individual stats,” Creech said. “Rather than rolling out the red carpet for parimutuel betting, lawmakers need to be addressing problems they’ve created by allowing gambling on college games.”