MOORESVILLE, N.C. — A bill legalizing mobile sports betting is getting support from North Carolina lawmakers. It’s already passed the state Senate, and Gov. Roy Cooper is expressing his support. But not everybody is on board.
What You Need To Know
The North Carolina Senate passed a bill legalizing gambling in 2021. A similar bill is moving through the House
Gov. Roy Cooper has expressed his support for legalizing gambling on sports
The proposal calls for $1 million of tax revenue to go toward gambling addiction education and treatment programs
Every morning, Dr. Rawson Carlin writes down future appointments on paper.
“Well, I’m old school,” Carlin said. “For goodness sakes, I’m 71 years old.”
For decades, Carlin helps people struggling with many types of addiction. He knows first hand what lots of his patients are going through.
“I had an alcohol and drug problem,” Carlin said.
Today, with a Doctorate in Ministry, Carlin helps guide others toward recovery at his ECare Counseling office in Mooresville. He helps those suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions.
“I offer hope. Some people say there’s no hope without dope. You know, once an addict always an addict,” Carlin said. “And I believe in having hope, hope is so important.”
He’s worried about a new bill circulating around the General Assembly that would allow people to make bets on a sporting event right from their cell phone.
“A touch of the screen, it’s right there,” Carlin said. “And then there are some people who are bored, and they’re like, 'let’s do some gambling, let’s check it out.'”
Carlin worries legalizing mobile sports betting will only make gambling addictions worse and may increase the number of addicts as well.
“I’ve seen marriages devastated, alienation of families and some turn to crime,” Carlin said.
Advocates for the proposal say legalizing sports betting will make it safer through regulation, and the state can collect tax revenue, at an 8% rate. It also calls for a million dollars of that revenue to go toward gambling addiction education and treatment programs.
"Anything that can help people is great,” Carlin said.
Carlin says if the bill is signed into law, he hopes he doesn’t see an increase of new clients coming through his door.
"I just hope that more people don’t get addicted to gambling,” Carlin said. “To me, that’s what’s important.”
The proposed bill must still pass several House committees before it’s considered by the full House.