North Carolina's available sports wagering options are currently supported by their two tribal casinos and by offshore sportsbooks. The state legalized domestic sports betting in July of 2019 and became one of the progressive states that offer legal sports betting. So betting on any game of chance for money is illegal in North Carolina, other than provisions in Chapter 18C which governs the North Carolina State Lottery, or in part 2 of this section, which concerns the allowance of gambling on tribal lands. Editor’s note: Chapter 18C authorizes the North Carolina state lottery and Part 2 authorizes various aspects of charity gaming. As to the latter, see North Carolina Charitable Gaming Laws. § 14-293.Allowing gambling in houses of public entertainment; penalty.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Nc
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Nc Counties

North Carolina is one of the states where the issue of whether poker is to be understood as a game of chance or not is critical to whether it is to be deemed illegal or not. The law as it relates to gambling in North Carolina reads as follows:

“Section 14-492, Gambling: Except as provided in Chapter 18C of the General Statutes or in Part 2 of this Article, any person or organization that operates any game of chance or any person who plays at or bets on any game of chance at which any money, property or other thing of value is bet, whether the same be in stake or not, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.” (1)

So betting on any game of chance for money is illegal in North Carolina, other than provisions in Chapter 18C which governs the North Carolina State Lottery, or in part 2 of this section, which concerns the allowance of gambling on tribal lands. (2). So in other words these are the only two exceptions permitted in the state to bet on games of chance.

Since the statute is silent as to how games of chance are to be defined, this has been left up to the courts to decide. There is an element of both skill and chance in the game of poker, and whether it is to be defined as a game of chance or not for the purposes of legal interpretation depends first on whether this addresses the preponderance of chance versus skill, which is widely open to debate, or whether any element of chance would suffice to fit this definition.

The North Carolina courts have thus far taken the latter definition, whereby if there is an element of chance at all in a game, it is a game of chance. In Joker Club v. Hardin, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that “since the instrumentality of victory is not entirely in a players’ hands” and that there must be “unavoidable uncertainty as to the results, chance predominates over skill in the game of poker.” (3)

Interestingly enough though, in the state’s compact with the Indians to allow gambling, one of the conditions is that the games offered include an element of skill, which includes poker. (4)

In any case, this addresses an exception to the law, although the law here is clearly too vague and poorly worded to properly set out the scope of this law, and we are left with being subject to fairly arbitrary decisions like this by the courts, but in the absence of clearer definitions, this is the only recourse.

So right now based upon the case law, poker is included in the law against gambling in North Carolina, which includes any form of poker playing not on an authorized venue on tribal lands, including home games played for money.

Live Poker In North Carolina

There is only one location in North Carolina where poker may be played legally, and that is at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, in Cherokee, NC. This casino is a joint venture between Harrah’s and the Indian tribe there, and is located on tribal land, and offers Class III gaming, including poker.

There are a total of 20 poker tables at this location, which is a rather large venue, sitting 21 stories tall and offering 1108 rooms. There is a pretty wide selection of casino games available as well. (5)

Online Poker In North Carolina

Given that playing poker for money is seen as being in violation of state law, this would extend to all poker playing, including playing poker online. There isn’t any reason to think that playing online poker in North Carolina would not consist of poker playing in North Carolina. You can’t really argue that since the game is hosted outside of the state, as is the case with online poker, the actual playing of the game did not occur in the state, since it is the playing of the game that is what is being declared illegal here.

This is what some people can get confused about, the venue may not be in the state but if playing is not legal in itself, and the bets also may be taken elsewhere, but here the law prohibits the act of playing such a game, and there is no question that the playing of the game occurs in North Carolina if you are playing it for money while physically located within the state.

This notwithstanding, authorities in North Carolina do not go after online poker players, as no state does at this time, so online poker players in North Carolina do not seem to be worried about any of this, nor does it appear that they need to be.

So if you do not wish to travel to the lone poker room in the state or visit poker rooms in other states, or play in home games, then online poker is actually the only option you have. Many North Carolina residents have come to take advantage of this option though, and if you wish to as well, there are several very good sites which are happy to allow you to do so.

Ignition Poker is one of these sites and comes highly recommended. Ignition Poker bought up the Bovada software and re-branded in 2016 – they have already proven to have a very good track record at providing high quality online poker to Americans, including North Carolina citizens. They offer a first deposit bonus of up to $1,000, as well as a FREE $5 casino chip to use in their online casino.

America’s Cardroom is another of our top recommended poker sites and they also accept North Carolina residents. Their first time bonus deposit is the same as Ignition’s, with traffic being slightly higher though, especially at the NL Holdem and Pot Limit Omaha tables.

References:

(1) North Carolina Statutes, 14-292.

(2) North Carolina Statutes, 14-292.2

(3) Court of Appeals of North Carolina, Joker Club v. Hardin

(4) North Carolina Legal Poker

(5) Harrah’s Cherokee

Save

#1 Editor's Choice All-in-One Gambling Site: BetOnline.ag

BetOnline.ag is one of the most reputable online poker sites that still cater to United States players and ALL grinders worldwide. Claim your 100% poker bonus and/or FREE $25 sports bet!

New players can earn up to $1,000 in bonus cash on their 1st deposit.
Ridiculously crisp software and graphics - no lag whatsoever online or on your mobile device.
Super easy to deposit on - #1 credit card acceptance rate ANYWHERE; Cryptocurrency also accepted!
24/7 live support, VERY FAST payout speeds and built-in sportsbook and casino.
$25 FREE BET available and other perks you can use at their online or LIVE DEALER casino.

EDITOR'S NOTE: BetOnline welcomes players from ALL 50 states and from ALL OVER THE WORLD w/ limited restrictions.

Casino Gambling: Legal
Tribal Gaminb: Legal
Poker: Legal
Horse Racing Betting: Not Legal
Dog Racing Betting: Not Legal
Lottery: Legal
Daily Fantasy Sports: Not Specified
Charitable Gaming: Legal
Social Gambling: Not Legal
Online Gambling: Not Specified

Located in the American South, North Carolina doesn’t have to lot of gaming competition. This is especially the case with the anti-gambling South Carolina on their southern border.

That said, the Tar Heel State has been slow to adopt new forms of gaming. But this has changed in recent decades, with North Carolina looking for ways to fund their schools and education.

Their lottery has played a role in saving the state’s higher education system, while tribal gaming creates thousands of jobs.

This isn’t to say that North Carolina is suddenly the new Vegas. But they’re trending in the right direction w

Is Online Gambling Illegal In Nc