Fans at the Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina were treated to an exciting day of college basketball games on a 90-foot LED screen. Bettors cheered as No. 2-ranked Houston covered the spread against No. 11 Baylor with a winning three-pointer at the buzzer. This was just the beginning of legal sports betting in North Carolina, with legislation allowing bets on professional, college, and amateur sports approved last year.
The state is projected to make up to $100 million a year from the proceeds, with betting now available through digital devices or in person near professional team arenas. The expansion of sports gambling in North Carolina has been cheered by sports fans, but also raises concerns due to a history of scandals involving gamblers influencing N.C. State and UNC basketball players in the 1960s.
One such scandal involved gamblers pressuring N.C. State players to shave points during a game against Georgia Tech in December 1961. In response to these incidents, UNC System President Bill Friday took decisive action to address the issue, limiting scholarships and scaling back games to maintain academic integrity in college sports.
As the sports gambling industry continues to expand nationwide, North Carolina has embraced the trend with legal betting now available online and in person. The state’s embrace of sports gambling represents a significant shift from its historical stance on the issue, with optimism about the potential economic benefits it could bring to the sports industry and economy.
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Photo credit www.theassemblync.com