The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and William Hill have opened The Book, North Carolina’s first legal sports betting venue, at both of its Harrah’s Cherokee Casino sites in Cherokee and Murphy.
The state’s tribal sports betting bill was approved by the Senate in April 2019. This bill classes sports betting as a Class III gaming activity, meaning that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians could offer it at both of its casinos under its Class III compact.
“We are excited to offer legal sports betting at The Book, and just in time for March Madness.” Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Richard Sneed said.
“We would like to thank our partners at William Hill and Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, as well as members of the state, for making this opening possible.”
Both the Cherokee and Murphy casinos are in the western part of the state, close to the Tennessee border.
Earlier it was announced that the acquisition of William Hill by Las Vegas casino operator Caesars is set to be contested by investment management fund HBK Investments (HBK). The deal is worth $4.03bn (€3.39bn/£2.9bn).
Legislators in North Carolina also passed a sports betting expansion study bill in September 2019, which looked into both further expansion of sports betting and creation of a new regulatory body, the North Carolina Gaming Commission