Butler introduces bill to extend gambling restrictions in NC House

State Rep. Deb Butler has introduced a new bill in the North Carolina House designed to broaden the state’s gambling rules by including additional games of chance and digital betting, according to the North Carolina State House.

Labeled as HB 1171 and submitted April 30 during the 2025 regular session, the measure carries the short title: ‘Prohibit Gambling in Prediction Markets.’

Here, we offer a summary based on the official bill text, with clarifying interpretation of its details.

Essentially, the proposal would revise North Carolina’s gambling ban to include all games of chance at physical locations statewide and through any online market or platform accessible to state residents—specifically highlighting prediction markets where wagers are placed on future outcomes. Existing legal exceptions for the state lottery and other permitted gambling would remain unchanged. This legislation would categorize violations as a Class 2 misdemeanor. It also allocates $10,000 in one-time funds from the General Fund to the State Lottery Commission for the 2026-27 fiscal year to support enforcement. The changes to gambling laws would go into effect Dec. 1, 2026, the funding would be available starting July 1, 2026, and other provisions take effect when the bill becomes law.

Among the three sponsors, Pricey Harrison introduced the most bills (68) during the 2025 regular session.

North Carolina’s legislative process involves multiple steps to pass a bill. A legislator begins by filing a bill, which is referred to a committee for consideration. Each chamber must read the bill three times. If amendments are made after the other chamber’s approval, both must accept the final text. Once both chambers give their approval, the legislation moves to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 days if the session is adjourned) to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without action.

Further information about these and other legislative measures is available here.

Butler earned her BA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1983 and her JD from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1986.

A Democrat, Butler was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the 18th House district, succeeding Susi Hamilton.