Murphy – Place your bets. The sports books inside Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos opened Thursday, just in time for the start of the 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament and “March Madness.”
Patrons can wager on collegiate games, professional sports and off-track racing at the casinos in both Cherokee and Murphy. A handful of people were enjoying the lounge chairs at The Book in Murphy on the first night of the college basketball tournament, with a strong crowd of patrons spread throughout the gaming floor.
The menu and betting odds are similar to what someone might find in Las Vegas. The Book offers a broad betting menu on all games, including the option of live in-play wagering, futures wagering, proposition wagers and parlay cards.
The Book at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel features a 32-foot, ultra-high-definition television screen, plush reclining chairs and full beverage service. An additional lounge area can be reserved for private parties. Four ticket-writer windows and five self-service kiosks are available to place bets.
“The Book represents our commitment to continued growth,” casino general manager Lumpy Lambert said in a release. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this new amenity to sports fans, especially on the opening day of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.”
The N.C. General Assembly passed a bill in summer 2019 that permitted sports wagering and horse betting at Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians casinos. Gov. Roy Cooper signed an amended gaming compact in December last year that outlines regulatory requirements for sports betting, which the U.S. Department of the Interior recently approved.
The agreement only allows in-person sports betting. The compact also specifies that sports wagering does not include betting on Olympic events.
The amended gaming compact further states that no sports wager may be accepted unless the outcome and score of the event is reported in the media or in the official public records maintained by the appropriate league.
Additionally, the compact requires the EBCI to pay North Carolina $191,000 in the first year to cover additional expenses the state will incur relating to sports and horse race wagering. That payment increases 3.7 percent annually thereafter.