North Carolina Casino Effort Criticized By Community Being Targeted

Posted on: August 2, 2023, 11:51h. 

Last updated on: August 2, 2023, 12:13h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

A North Carolina community being targeted for a casino resort through state legislation came out in droves this week to oppose such efforts.

Rockingham County is one of three counties that would be designated as a permittable host for a commercial casino. That’s should a draft bill being worked on by North Carolina Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) become law. Berger has hinted at soon introducing the statute or including the measure in the General Assembly’s forthcoming budget bill.

But during a town hall Tuesday night at the Ellisboro Baptist Church in Madison, throngs of Rockingham residents came out to voice their opposition to the casino push.

Casinos are monuments honoring the exploitation of the poor,” said one attendee.

“We didn’t ask for a casino,” said another. “We’re asking folks to respect what’s going on in our neighborhood.”

Casino Rumors

An entity called NC Development Holdings, an LLC linked to Baltimore-based Cordish Companies, –which operates Live!-branded casinos in Maryland and Pennsylvania — petitioned the Rockingham County Planning Board last month. They asked to rezone 193 acres of farmland located along US 220 north of Carefree Lane for commercial use.

Cordish officials have made numerous campaign contributions to Berger and several other state lawmakers, most of whom have expressed support for the liberalization of commercial casinos. Along with its casinos, Cordish’s Live! brand has retail shopping, dining, and entertainment districts in numerous states. The hospitality giant currently has no assets in North Carolina.

What bothers me is the lack of transparency,” said Mark Walker, a former congressman who represented North Carolina in the U.S. House.

Walker, also a Republican, is mounting a gubernatorial campaign in hopes of ousting Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Walker lives in Greensboro, a city within Guilford County, which is directly south of Rockingham.

Of the estimated crowd of 500 in attendance at last night’s town hall, all but one comment was in opposition to allowing a casino to come to Rockingham. The lone supporter was local Stephen James, a self-described professional poker player.

James pointed to the economic benefits that the two Harrah’s tribal casinos in the southwestern part of the state have created for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He also says casinos are more than just gambling, as a resort would bring new entertainment, dining, and lodging options to the rural area.

Rezoning Request

Cordish’s rezoning request for the Rockingham County farmland will be formally voted on by the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners during its August 21 meeting. The odds are presumed to be long that the vote will go in Cordish’s favor. The County Planning Board in July voted 5-2 against the project, and recommended the commissioners reject the application.

The farmland property butts up against Camp Carefree, a summer camp for children with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

We’re not Las Vegas. We don’t want to be Las Vegas,” said Camp Carefree owner Chis Rodenbaugh.

There are, however, numerous other parcels of land located across Rockingham that could be targeted by Cordish. Along with Rockingham, Berger’s bill is expected to qualify the counties of Anson and Nash as casino hosts.