Do we really want a mini casino on every corner in NC? | Opinion
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Slow down on legalized gambling
The writer served 16 years in the N.C. House, including as Speaker Pro Tem.
On June 15, North Carolina made sports betting legal. Some N.C. lawmakers don’t appear willing to stop there.
Speaker Tim Moore has said that “there’s some very general discussion right now” about expanding gambling further.
When N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger was asked about the fact that Virginia is planning a casino on the state border, he said: “We’ll see whether or not there’s something that that is practical for us to do in North Carolina to address that.”
I take that to mean lawmakers could eventually allow a commercial casino in our state. They could even allow gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets, bars and restaurants to begin carrying slots and other casino-style games.
Do we really want to allow so many N.C. businesses to turn into mini casinos when we haven’t studied the effects that sports betting may have on our communities?
There are a lot of potential harms that can come from moving too fast on this issue. At a minimum, lawmakers should think about what those may be, what they can do to mitigate them, and if the risks are worth the rewards.
When I was Speaker Pro Tem of the N.C. House, I worked to slow down gambling bills for this very reason. I worry about the side effects of legal gambling: People become addicted, they lose more than they can afford, they turn to illegal activity to raise quick cash, and they alienate their spouses and family members.
It happens repeatedly, everywhere gambling is allowed — it is a feature of the system, not a bug.
What N.C. lawmakers are considering is reckless and rushed. You always need to digest one meal before you start eating another one. There is no reason for the state house to allow more commercial gambling when it hasn’t even studied the results of the new sports gambling law. A proposal to expand what is available would be too much, too fast.
Now is not the time for state lawmakers to roll the dice on the people of this state’s safety and economic security. Now is the time for the statehouse to cool down a bit and become more thoughtful and less impulsive before it’s too late.
Paul “Skip” Stam, Apex
The integrity of sports will erode
The writer is director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina.
Some of us are grieving now that online sports gambling has become legal in North Carolina.
Sports have been a means for building team spirit, shaping character, instilling discipline. Sports have enabled some to rise above their circumstances and become winners. It served a significant function in our culture, bringing us together, creating a sense of community and identity. It was even used during wartime to promote social harmony and political unity.
With the legalization of sports gambling in the Tar Heel state, and 25 other states, the goodness of sports will slowly but surely be supplanted by a culture of avarice and selfishness among players, coaches and fans. Instead of focusing on the values of teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship, some people will become more concerned with winning bets and making profits, leading to the deterioration of the integrity of sports and a loss of respect for the games.
When large sums of money are at stake, individuals are more prone to bend and break the rules. Match-fixing, point-shaving and other cheating will erode the honor of the games. Over time, sports gambling will diminish the role of sports as a source of inspiration and moral guidance for youth. Instead of inspiring them to work hard, show determination, and chase their dreams, sports will become associated with gambling and quick fixes. The result? Future generations will be more focused on making money than developing a vision in life or advancing in decency and respectability.
Gov. Roy Cooper and the Republicans who drove this legislation insisted sports gambling was already happening. But it wasn’t happening to the extent it will now that it’s authorized by state government. Now, it will become an integral part of sports culture, corrupting and weakening the real virtues of sports. That’s nothing to celebrate with smiles and applause.
Rev. Mark Creech, Raleigh
