North Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by five states, with Virginia to the North, South Carolina and Georgia to the South, and Tennessee to the west. On its eastern border lies the Atlantic Ocean.

Charlotte is its largest and most famous city but, contrary to the widely-held opinion, it isn’t the capital. This honor actually goes to Raleigh. Banking is a major lifeblood of the state and Charlotte holds the distinction as the second largest banking center in the US (after New York City). Charlotte’s metropolitan area also has the highest population of any city in the state, at 2.5 million.

Originally established as a royal colony for the English crown in the 1700s, the state was the 12th to ratify the US constitution in 1789. Following its initial secession from the union ahead of the civil war, North Carolina rejoined and regained its statehood in 1868.

North Carolina’s landscape is marked by steep changes in geography, elevation, and other topographical elements in different parts of the state. In the west lies the state’s share of the Appalachian mountains and in the east, the Piedmont plateau along the Atlantic coastal plains. In terms of weather, however, the entire state retains the same features: a humid subtropical climate.

The racial demographics of the state is extremely diverse. White and white Hispanics account for 65%, African Americans account for 21.5%, Asians make up 2.2%, and 4.3% is accounted for by other races including the Native American tribes present in the state. This demographic variety, especially on the part of the African American mix, is responsible for the cultural diversity in North Carolina and plays a role in the evolution of gambling there.

Early History of Gambling and Poker in North Carolina

North Carolina, in 1653, became one of the original 12 US colonies. Having now become a recognized government subdivision, this newfound status allowed the state to begin carving out an identity for itself in terms of culture, self-governance, and entertainment industries and businesses. Gambling gradually took its place as one of the preferred forms of entertainment in the state.

Around a century later, in 1753, North Carolina banned all forms of public gambling. In the same fell swoop, all gaming-related debts were erased and laws were enacted limiting losses from the remaining permitted activities to 40 shillings.

In 1784, with a decision that smacked of political indecisiveness, the state rolled back its barely two-decade-old ban. This was because officials saw the potential for new revenue streams from taxed gambling. Gambling (and, by extension, poker) continued in a kind of legal limbo, moving from legal to illegal status from the late 18th century all the way up until the 20th.

As modern America continued to grow in the 1800s and 1900s, states began to exercise increased sovereignty over the goods, services, and activities that were considered legal. At the time, most forms of gambling were not permitted by law. In 1939, however, the state government decided to look into what forms to legalize. It settled on greyhound racing, making it North Carolina’s first legal form of gambling in the 20th century. In 1979, the state also removed the ban on bingo and raffle-style games.

When it comes to more popular forms of gambling i.e. casino-style games like poker and craps, 1994 stands out as a landmark year. It was then that the North Carolina government signed a gaming compact with the Cherokee Indians native to the state. This allowed them to own and manage tribal casinos all over the state territory.

Modern State of Poker in North Carolina

Building on the win that the pro-gaming voters and native tribes scored in the 1990s, the rapid construction and openings of full-scale tribal casinos highlighted much of late ’90s and early 2000s in North Carolina. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, in 1997, was the first of its kind in the state and it opened the floodgates for the establishment of other similar establishments in the state.

Since then, other casinos like the Cherokee Tribal Bingo, Eastway Beach Bingo, and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino have since sprung up and continue to thrive in the state. Importantly, however, these tribal casinos were only permitted to offer table games in 2012, due to an amendment to the tribal compact that was established earlier.

In terms of the lottery, North Carolina’s lottery is among the most recent in the country. The bill that allowed for its formation was only signed in 2005. It also stated that profits gained from lottery tickets and other revenue streams should go towards funding education.

Online Poker

Like many other American States, North Carolina doesn’t explicitly define the status of online poker and ,more broadly, online gambling in the state. Unlike many other states, North Carolina doesn’t even have clauses in the constitution that could render mobile gambling devices (such as smartphones) illegal. The uncertain nature of online gambling has led to a predisposition where many off-shore websites freely serve players from the state.

In the state, there has been any record of law enforcement officials raiding any online gambling platform or prosecuting online gamblers. As such, it is safe to say that despite the lack of clarity pertaining online poker, it proceeds unhindered in North Carolina.

If you’re searching for online poker platforms that specifically serve players from North Carolina, websites like El Royale Casino, Super Slots, MyBookie Poker, and BetNow Poker are great options to explore.