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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina House Bill 999 Authorizes and Regulates Video Gaming Terminals
Last action · April 14, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Harry Warren and 4 others
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 999 authorizes the regulated play of video gaming terminals across North Carolina, establishing a licensing and under the North Carolina State Lottery Commission. The measure imposes a $10,000 excise tax on unauthorized gaming machines, sets strict location and advertising restrictions, and distributes s among the Commission, operators, and retail merchants.
Licensed businesses such as bars and restaurants holding ABC permits may operate up to six video gaming terminals per location, sharing revenues while facing strict distance requirements from schools and churches, a ban on public advertising, and criminal penalties for violations.
- House Bill 999 was introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly during the 2025-2026 legislative session. context
- The North Carolina State Lottery Commission oversees lottery games and associated regulated gaming activities within the state. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Video gaming terminal operators
Operators must pay initial and renewal licensing fees, adhere to terminal limits, connect to a central monitoring system, and contract exclusively with licensed manufacturers and merchants.
Video gaming merchants
Merchants holding valid ABC permits must obtain a commission license, post mandatory signage, maintain surveillance cameras, and make responsible gaming resources available to patrons.
North Carolina State Lottery Commission
The Commission assumes sole regulatory and administrative authority over licensing, permit issuance, central monitoring system contracting, and revenue collection.
Alcohol Law Enforcement Division
The division receives dedicated annual funding and shares criminal enforcement responsibility for video gaming regulations and inspections.
Key Facts
- House Bill 999 authorizes the regulated play of electronic video gaming terminals in North Carolina under the administrative authority of the North Carolina State Lottery Commission.
- Operators are initially allowed to operate up to three video gaming terminals per location, with the possibility of up to three additional terminals based on a net machine revenue benchmark established by the Commission.
- Video gaming terminals must be located in a building more than 1,000 feet away from any church, public school, or nonpublic school, unless the school or church locates near the merchant after operations have begun.
- All video gaming terminals and associated equipment must be connected at all times to a central monitoring system operated or contracted by the Commission.
Show all 11 facts
- Net machine revenues are distributed as follows: 32% to the North Carolina Video Gaming Fund, 8% to Commission administration and enforcement costs (including at least $3 million annually to the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division), 30% to operators, and 30% to video gaming merchants.
- Effective July 1, 2027, a portion of the 8% revenue allocation includes $2 million annually to six specific constituent universities for improving graduation rates and student success.
- Initial license fees are established at $150,000 for manufacturers, $250,000 plus $150 per terminal for operators, and $1,500 per retail location for video gaming merchants, alongside a $250 application fee.
- An excise tax of $10,000 per machine is levied on unauthorized gaming machines, payable within 48 hours of placement by an operator, with 75% of unencumbered tax proceeds collected by assessment distributed to investigating law enforcement agencies.
- All advertising of video gaming games and terminals is strictly prohibited, except for a standard mandatory sign posted by merchants visible prior to entry indicating that terminals are on site.
- Players must be at least 21 years of age to purchase a share for or play a video gaming terminal, and no cash award on an individual wager may exceed $1,199.
- The Commission must establish a voluntary exclusion program allowing individuals to voluntarily bar themselves from playing video gaming games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to operate video gaming terminals in North Carolina?
Are video gaming merchants allowed to advertise their terminals publicly?
What is the maximum cash payout permitted on a single wager?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 14, 2025HouseRef To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 14, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 10, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transition from Prohibited Gaming to State-Regulated Terminals
The bill shifts state policy from restricting unpermitted video gaming machines to establishing an authorized, centrally monitored commercial gaming market administered by the Lottery Commission.
Dedicated University Funding from Gaming Revenues
Beginning July 1, 2027, $2 million annually from video gaming revenues is allocated to six specific historically black universities and regional institutions to improve graduation rates and student success.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment15Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz80Current news / social attention level
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