Casinos in North Carolina

Jane Shaw By Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US Updated: November 7, 2024
Jane Shaw Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US See Full Bio

We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she's our gambling tech expert. Jane's also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

North Carolina Casino Map - List of Gambling Locations

North Carolina Casino Map

The Best Casino in North Carolina

North Carolina Best Casinos
Harrah's Cherokee
4.7 /5
Cherokee
Slots
3280
Special Services
  • Fitness
  • Pool

The Biggest Casino in North Carolina

North Carolina Biggest Casino
50.000 70 15 Coming Soon Visit Website

Are There Indian Casinos in North Carolina?

A casino gambling compact with Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians permitted the establishment of Indian casinos in North Carolina. Initially, Indian casinos are only allowed to offer video gaming. It changed when the NC government amended the bill for casinos to operate table games too.

North Carolina Indian Casino
Blackjack Games, Casino Poker Games, Dice Games, Lottery Games, Others (Electronic Craps, Electronic Blackjack, Electronic Roulette, Electronic 3-Card Poker), Poker Cash Games And Poker Tournaments, Roulette Games, Slots Games, Coming Soon Visit Website
Blackjack Games, Casino Poker Games, Dice Games, Lottery Games, Others (Electronic Craps, Electronic Blackjack, Electronic Roulette, Electronic 3-Card Poker), Poker Cash Games And Poker Tournaments, Roulette Games, Slots Games, Read Our Review Visit Website

Racinos

NC gambling laws had a brief window of legality for racetracks beginning 1948 until 1954. It allowed the operation of two racetracks in Moyock and Morehead City, where greyhound races occurred. In the mid-50s, the state banned racinos due to allegations that the officials gave the said private company some special privileges.

After the event, North Carolina never allowed horseracing.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in North Carolina?

There are no available cruise ship casinos that operate from NC lands. Residents on the east side of the state can find riverboat casinos that depart from Little River. These gambling cruises are just across the state land in South Carolina, where they offer the same variety of casino games.

Full North Carolina Casino List

There are two land-based casinos in North Carolina where residents can experience a full range of betting games, such as slots, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let it Ride and baccarat. Check out some casinos near us, where these games are legal.

Choose a City
Choose a Type
All Casinos in Cherokee
Harrah's Cherokee 777 Casino Dr, Cherokee, NC 28719, United States, Cherokee, Indian Casino
All Casinos in Murphy
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River 777 Casino Pkwy, Murphy, NC 28906, United States, Murphy, 28906 Indian Casino
 

Expected New Casinos

Since the beginning, gambling towns in North Carolina have shown slow progress in embracing the establishment of casinos in its lands. NC laws only legalized two tribal casinos and a handful of bingo establishments. There is a small probability of having new casinos in North Carolina gambling cities as the state seriously preserves its conservative values.

Gambling in North Carolina

When North Carolina approved the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, it allowed tribes to negotiate casino compacts with many states, including North Carolina. NC establishments were approved to offer various gambling activities, such as poker, slots, roulette, dice, blackjack, and table games.

North Carolina Gambling Topics Gambling Facts for North Carolina
Number of Casinos 2
Casino Types Indian
Casino Games Offered Slots Games, Table Games, Poker Games, Roulette Games, Blackjack Games, Dice Games,
Age 21+ ,
Smoking Yes/No*, *Smoking inside is prohibited but there are external smoking areas in each North Carolina casino
Drinking Yes/No*, *Drinking while playing is allowed, but no free alcoholic drinks are served
Opening Hours
24/7 , Some casinos are closed on Easter and Christmas. Check the brands pages for more info
Betting Limit Minimum of $0.01
Taxation of Winnings Yes/No, for additional details click here

Casino Games in North Carolina

Numerous gambling options are available in North Carolina, the same as what other states offer to its residents. Below is the list of gambling options that we can enjoy within the state lines.

Slot
  • Colossal Wizards
  • Li’l Red
  • Spartacus Gladiator of Rome
  • Forbidden Dragons
  • Queen of the Wild II
  • Lazer Lock Ice Sapphire
  • 4300+ Slot Machines
Casino Poker
  • Let it Ride
  • Flop Poker
  • Limit Holdem
  • No Limit Holdem
  • 1 Poker Room Is Available In Each Of The Casinos
Poker Cash and Poker Tournaments
  • Crazy 4 Poke
  • Fortune Pai Gow
  • Sharp Shooter
  • Razz
  • Limit Holdem
  • NL Holdem
  • 170+ Table Games
Roulette
  • American Roulette
  • European Roulette
Blackjack
  • Any 2 Card Blackjack
  • Spanish 21
  • Hand-Held Deck
  • Shoe Game
  • Single Deck
  • Double Deck
Dice Games
  • Craps
  • Sic Bo
  • Hazard
  • Chuck-A-Luck
Lottery Games
  • Keno
  • 75 Ball Bingo
  • 90 Ball Bingo
  • Daily Lotto Draws
  • Mini Lottos
  • Scratchers
  • Types: Scratch-off and lotto tickets
  • Betting includes interstate drawings such as Powerball and Mega Millions
Other Games
  • Electronic Craps
  • Electronic Blackjack
  • Electronic Roulette
  • Electronic 3-Card Poker
Sports Betting
  • None

Gambling Legal Situation in North Carolina

When was casino gambling legalized in North Carolina?
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 allowed the legality of casino gambling in North Carolina. Tribes are permitted to negotiate casino compacts with the state to operate officially.
Online gambling
North Carolina did not actively address online betting in its gambling laws. However, residents are more likely safe to play at offshore gaming sites due to NC broad gambling laws.
What is the legal gambling age in North Carolina?
Players must be at least 18 years old to participate in the state lottery events and 21 years old to enter tribal casinos.
Can you smoke in North Carolina casinos?
North Carolina does not allow smoking in all indoor businesses; however, it does not apply to Cherokee’s casinos. There are designated areas for its casino players.
Horse racing / Off-Track betting
Horseracing has been outlawed and was never allowed to take place in North Carolina.
Dog racing / Off-Track betting
North Carolina legalized greyhound racing for a short period from 1948 to 1954. The races occurred at the Morehead City and Moyock racetracks.
North Carolina charitable gaming
NC constitution did not actively address social gambling; however, all forms of betting are considered illegal within the state lines. Social gaming serves as unlawful in this perspective.
Other legal restrictions
NC lawmakers dealt with many gambling activities that the state considers illegal. It includes video gambling and sweepstakes cafes.

Taxation of Winnings

North Carolina is said to be one of the unfavorable states for gamblers when it comes to federal tax. NC does not allow gambling losses as an itemized deduction, which makes a taxpayer with $1000 of gambling winnings and $1000 of gambling losses owe state income tax on the phantom gambling winnings.

Prize ($) State Income Tax (any prize) North Carolina Gross Income Tax (%)5.2 (flat rate)
Prize ($) Federal tax (any prize) North Carolina Gross Income Tax (%)0 (depends on the tax bracket)

North Carolina Gambling Laws

NC gambling laws are broad. North Carolina does not actively address other gambling options, making it difficult for some residents to know the legality of their betting activities. Below, we can check on some excerpts to keep in mind when actively engaging in some gambling activities within the state lines.

History

In the beginning, North Carolina restricted all gambling forms within its state lands. NC legislature tried to address some of the gaming options due to residents' demand, which led to little improvement in its gambling activities within borders.

Later on, North Carolina amended its legislation for Cherokee casinos to offer table games. With less gaming competition within the state, the federally recognized tribe opened another gambling place called Cherokee Valley River Casino. Many tribes attempted to establish a casino within state lines, but the Cherokee Tribe heavily opposed a third casino. For years, the Catawaba tribe fought for their right to build a casino in North Carolina. Through the support of Hard Rock International, North Carolina gave the tribe its authority to open its proposed King’s Mountain casino resort in 2020.

North Carolina history image
history-north-carolina-img2.jpg Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is the first legal casino in North Carolina.
history-north-carolina-img3.jpg
  • 1979 North Carolina allowed operations of bingo and raffles for charities.

  • 1994 The state has approved the Cherokee tribe's casino compact. From then on, the tribe started offering video gaming to the residents.

  • 1997 The tribe opened the first casino in North Carolina through a gambling compact.

  • 2005 The state lottery was approved.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

North Carolina has a proposed Gaming Commission Bill aiming to expand the gambling options within the state lines. This would elevate NC to a similar level as many other states that offer the best casino experience in the US. Though it is still under the committee's review, residents expect that it covers all gaming activities in North Carolina, such as online gaming.

North Carolina Casino Resorts and Trips

There are two NC casino resorts that are legally operating in the Smoky Mountains. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians founded both gambling places. Below are some casino trips to make the most of the state's casino experience.

Casino Resorts

Though there are limited gambling places in North Carolina, we can upgrade our casino action at one of the Cherokee's casino resorts in the state. These casino resorts offer live games, such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and slot games.

Harrah's Cherokee
Number of Rooms1108
Price Range ($)149-499
Special Packages"Get up to 35% off Sundays-Thursdays"
Additional ServicesMeetings Fitness Gift Shop
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River
Number of Rooms324
Price Range ($)299-619
Special Packages"Caesars Rewards program"
Additional ServicesMeetings Fitness Golf

Casino Trips

Many casino trips are available for Harrah's Cherokee trips. However, the casino offers a bus line ride where we can book with special packages and discounts.

Caesars Rewards  Visit Website
  • Harrah's Cherokee
  • Round trip Motor Coach and Transportation Coin Voucher from the Casino

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to provide only accurate and up-to-date information, please be aware that casinos.us shall not be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the offer packages or other details listed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there casinos North Carolina?

North Carolina has two tribal casinos that are in the Smoky Mountains.

Are drugs allowed in North Carolina casino?

NC gambling place prohibits illegal drugs.

Is it possible to bring your children to the casinos in North Carolina?

Children are not allowed within the casino area, but they can stay on some premises inside the casino resort. Adults should accompany children inside the gambling place.

Do North Carolina casinos allow guns?

Carrying guns are only allowed under certain circumstances. It is allowed whether law enforcement officers and security officers are on or off duty.

Am I allowed to bring pets to any casino in North Carolina?

Pets are not allowed inside the gambling facilities or restaurants, but NC casinos offer pet rooms in its hotel.

About North Carolina

State Image
Capital Raleigh 
Largest Cities Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham 
Size 139,390 km² 
Population 10.5 million 
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time 
Abbreviation NC