North Carolina Poker - Cherokees and Harrah's Info?

MattyMayor · #1 03-06-2007, 04:17 PM

Hi,

I'm trying to research the situation in Cherokee,NC in regards to live poker. I know that the tribe is having a very hard time trying to get live poker and blackjack introduced at the casino there (currently they only have video games). Does any body know where I can find good information on the legislation preventing this? Or maybe a timeline of what has occured in the discussions?

Any info appreciated.

-Matt

cmillard · #2 03-06-2007, 04:33 PM

I am also in NC and would love some info on this...the last thing I heard was that they were planning to expand and have live poker...
I think I remember hearing or reading something about the state not allowing it, but that was months ago.

hollaballa · #3 03-06-2007, 04:40 PM

the last I've heard is there is little chance of this happening right now.

ncboiler · #4 03-06-2007, 07:45 PM

I live in Asheville so Cherokee is just a drive down the road. This is of particular interest to me. Last year there was talk about including live dealers and serving alcohol at the casino. The State Legislature was working with the tribe in order to come up with some sort of plan. However neither side could come up with a solution that both sides could accept and talks were ended with no future negotiations scheduled. The entire process seemed kind of bitter. There has been nothing recently as far as I have heard about re-opening talks and I really don't think the State Legislature is in the mood for it with all of the recent lottery scandal. This is dead for now.

Benjamin · #5 03-06-2007, 08:14 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The State Legislature was working with the tribe in order to come up with some sort of plan. However neither side could come up with a solution that both sides could accept and talks were ended with no future negotiations scheduled. The entire process seemed kind of bitter. There has been nothing recently as far as I have heard about re-opening talks and I really don't think the State Legislature is in the mood for it with all of the recent lottery scandal. This is dead for now.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is basically what I've heard as well, except I think it's the Governor's office who handles this in NC, not Legislature, IINM. He wanted a mutli-million dollar payoff for letting it go forward, which the Cherokee declined.

Benjamin <-- fellow WNCer

Nephro · #6 03-06-2007, 09:57 PM

I am also from Asheville and I believe it is only a matter of time. About a year ago they apparently were preparing a building away from the casino for a poker room but did not get the governors approval. The newspapers say that lobbying groups supporting various forms of gambling are the largest in the state. From an enconomic viewpoint I can see live poker booming in Cherokee. The draw from GA, NC, SC, TN would be huge. Cherokee could have as many casinos as Tunica. So the question is how much time? I suspect we will need to have a new governor or else significant pressure from Mike Easley's party (which I doubt will happen in public) will need to take place. This is just my opinion. I have no hard facts so nobody needs to freak out if they have more or better information.

wagnes · #7 03-06-2007, 10:03 PM

So you're telling me there's a chance!!

Benjamin · #8 03-07-2007, 01:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
So you're telling me there's a chance!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it will happen. I don't know when.

PeteN · #9 03-09-2007, 05:50 PM

Fly to Vegas it's quicker easier and they have more than one table. So far live dealers are illegal in NC and I'm not overly impressed by the casino anyhow.

Pokeraddict · #10 03-09-2007, 09:44 PM

Easley wanted $4,000,000 a year for live games. Currently the tribe pays nothing to the state, only a token to the surrounding counties for infrastructure and GA type groups. The tribe decided it was not worth it so they made the poker room they had already finished a non smoking casino.

The pact with NC only allows games that would be legal in NC anyway. At the time of the agreement video poker (although you could only win up to $10 in prizes) that required skill was legal in NC and so that is why Cherokee was allowed to have video poker. In a few more months NC is joining the surrounding states and all video poker in NC will be illegal but Cherokee was exempted from this law. Currently establishments are only allowed 1 video poker machine down from 3 several months ago as the gradual ban has gone into effect.

As time has gone by they have been allowed to add more machines (they have gone from 600 machines to 4000 machines). They have also been allowed to add the mock bj table games and slots that are involved in some sort of raffle. They have also raised the max jackpot from $25,000 to any amount.

In the future expect the rules to bend more and more, albeit slowly. Also the tribe voted overwhelmingly not to allow alcohol, I would not expect that any time soon.