H929 - Gaming Commission Summary

• Establishes the North Carolina Gaming Commission as an independent, self-supporting agency located in the Department of Commerce for budgetary purposes only.

• Consolidates gaming regulation functions by recodifying bingo and raffles (Chapter 14, Part 2, Article 37), boxing regulation (Chapter 143, Article 68), and the State Lottery (Chapter 18C) into a new Chapter 18E of the General Statutes.

• Creates a nine-member commission with five members appointed by the Governor, two by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and two upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House; members may serve maximum two consecutive four-year terms.

• Requires commission membership to include at least one member with five years law enforcement experience, one certified public accountant, one retail sales owner/manager, one gambling addiction treatment expert, and one player advocate.

• Directs the Gaming Commission to study the feasibility of authorizing sports betting, steeplechases, and video lottery terminals, with findings and proposed legislation due to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the State Lottery by February 15, 2020; effective date is September 1, 2019.