Imagine this – It’s Saturday gameday and instead of sitting at Memorial Stadium rooting for the Tigers – you’re at Harrah’s Casino in both their Murphy + Cherokee, N.C. locations (~3 + ~2 hours from Greenville, respectively). And at Harrah’s, you’d be doing more than rooting, you’d be betting.

On Friday, Governor Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 154 into law – which allows the legalization of sports gambling in N.C. The bill allows the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to open sportsbooks at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, and guest will soon be able to wager on collegiate and professional sports (as well as on off-track horse racing).

What will it look like?

To know what to expect, we can look at Vegas’s Harrah’s location where over 30 HDTVs, including nine 90-inch and eleven 80-inch TVs, plush leather seating and a full bar is the ultimate experience for “watching your favorite game in the exciting Las Vegas sports book atmosphere.”

When will it open?

The development of N.C.’s sports book starts now and is expected to be completed in late fall, in time for college bowl games + mid-season NFL. Harrah’s expects to hire 30-50 employees to their staff.

What is a sportsbook?

A sportsbook (or just ‘book) is an establishment that takes bets on sporting events and pays out winnings. According to currentsportsbetting.com, at Harrah’s in Vegas, “there are about five or six betting cashiers. Directly next to them you’ll find pamphlets containing that day’s betting lines along with upcoming events, futures, and whatever props.”

Rendering from Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel | Facebook

Can I go and watch without betting?

At the Vegas location, you have to bet to get a drink ticket, and the more you spend the more drink tickets you get. However, North Carolina ABC laws prohibit the offering of complimentary alcoholic beverages, which means fans can purchase drinks and watch the action. So, whether you're betting or just enjoying the game, everyone can have a good time.

We'll keep you posted when we know more about Harrah's sportsbook. We want to hear from you. What do you think of the announcement?

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