North Carolina County Embraces the Idea of Hosting a New Casino

Article by : Erik Gibbs Aug 11, 2023

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The Board of Commissioners of Nash County, North Carolina, sees a local vote to potentially approve a casino if the state legislature gives commercial gambling a green light. This week, an ordinance has been approved by a vote of six to one that would request the state grant the corresponding legal bodies a permit to hold a referendum.

Legislation to allow a single commercial casino in three counties, including Nash, Anson, and Rockingham, is now a reality being considered and contemplated by Raleigh’s legislators.

On the foundation that increasing amounts of business have kept moving north to casinos in nearby Virginia, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) is now aiming to have legislature in place to consider gambling in the state.

Although the news brings a positive commercial benefit to local citizens and state bodies, the more significant population needs to perceive it as such. State locals in the three counties where casinos could be built appear dissatisfied with the behind-closed politics around casinos.

Some county officials, who claim to be unaware of the casino discussions, share these frustrations. If that is the case, according to gaming industry experts, the lack of open forums and discussion has upset a side of the population.

As of today, formal casino legislation before the General Assembly is nonexistent. According to reports, Berger is instead thinking about adding the item to the budget package that is the focus of the prolonged congressional session.

Constituents believe that the six Nash County Commissioners who supported a local referendum on a casino should be given a voice. If so, their presence every step of the way should be mandatory and necessary.

The county is traversed by Interstate 95, with Rocky Mount serving as drivers’ most popular rest area. The commission chair of Nash County, Robbie Davis, told local authorities that he attended a meeting where casino proposals were targeting Rocky Mount as a potential location for a casino.

However, the Nash County Commissioners claim they have yet to be informed about any current proposals for building a casino that are being discussed around Berger’s casino bill.

As for Davis, a nondisclosure agreement is preventing him from talking about the specifics under discussion. The details include who the potential casino developers are, as well as other the names of other influential attendees at the meetings. According to Davis, Nash citizens must have the final say.