Inside the Push to Bring Commercial Casinos to North Carolina

For over two centuries, North Carolina has resisted the lure of commercial casinos. Yet between 2021 and 2025, a calculated effort emerged to challenge this longstanding prohibition. What began with lobbyists and quiet land acquisitions evolved into a complex political operation involving nonprofit influence, closed-door meetings, and growing public scrutiny.

Early Moves: Lobbyists and Land Options

The campaign traces back to September 2021, when the Cordish Companies—a Baltimore-based casino developer—retained two lobbyists in North Carolina: former state Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland and Drew Moretz, a former UNC System vice president. By 2023, Cordish had added six more lobbyists, ramping up efforts as state lawmakers considered new gambling legislation.

Political donations followed. In November 2022, Cordish-aligned contributions began flowing to Republican lawmakers and included a $50,000 donation to the Republican State Leadership Committee.

A pivotal moment came in January 2023, when the consulting group The Differentiators, led by two former senior staffers for Senate leader Phil Berger, conducted voter research suggesting that legislators would not face backlash for ing gambling—particularly if the revenue went toward public services or tax cuts.

Coordinated Reports and Quiet Land Acquisitions

Cordish’s strategy extended beyond lobbying. In March 2023, Greater Carolina, a nonprofit linked to a former Republican House aide, released a market analysis projecting that casinos in Anson, Nash, and Rockingham counties could generate an estimated $1.7 billion annually. Notably, Berger resides in Rockingham County.

Around the same time, Cordish moved to quietly secure land. Options were acquired in Nash and Rockingham before any draft legislation was made public. A similar arrangement for Anson County followed, though the specific date was not disclosed.

Anson County officials became increasingly involved. On March 31, 2023, Cordish lobbyist Zach Almond and county manager Len Sossamon discussed a trip to Cordish’s Baltimore casino. Days later, Sossamon and several commissioners traveled to Maryland for an overnight visit—an excursion that remained undisclosed to the public.

Building Toward Legislation

By April 11, 2023, Cordish subsidiary N.C. Development Holdings had secured a land option off I-95 in Nash County. One property owner claimed negotiations had begun nearly a year earlier.

In May 2023, Commissioner Jamie Caudle discussed casino-related legislation in a closed session of the Anson County Economic Development Corporation. A month later, Rockingham County commissioners approved zoning changes that could facilitate casino development.

On July 20, Berger formally announced plans for a legislative proposal to authorize casinos in the three counties, as well as one for the Lumbee tribe. State Rep. Jarrod Lowery told The Border Belt Independent that the hope was to embed the casino legislation into the broader state budget.

But cracks in were showing. By July 28, Nash County commissioners, reacting to local concerns, ed a resolution requesting a voter referendum on any casino plans.

Political Pressure and Public Backlash

The heat intensified in September 2023, when text messages revealed Almond urging county officials to pressure Rep. Mark Brody for , even sharing his personal cell number. Days later, Donald Trump Jr. criticized the secretive nature of the campaign, tweeting: “What’s going on in NC? Outrageous. Shady back room deals and crony capitalism are not the path to #MAGA!”

By September 19, reports from WRAL indicated that local officials in Nash County and Rocky Mount had been aware of Cordish’s casino ambitions for a year and had signed non-disclosure agreements. That same day, legislative leaders confirmed they would no longer pursue casino legislation that year.

Fallout and Reversal

In October 2023, Sossamon requested that Almond revise the draft bill to accommodate Anson County’s zoning plans. Almond directed him to Differentiators co-founder Jim Blaine.

Legal and political consequences soon followed. On June 17, 2024, a Rockingham County resident filed a lawsuit against commissioners, alleging misinformation that impacted his primary campaign. The case prompted the release of previously withheld records revealing Cordish’s activities in Anson County.

By February 4, 2025, Anson County had officially hired Almond’s lobbying firm under a $5,000-per-month contract, pushed through in a narrow 4-3 vote.

The campaign ultimately came full circle. On May 7, 2025, Senator Berger, citing resistance in his district, issued a written statement to The News & Observer stating he no longer ed legalizing casinos in North Carolina. The reversal comes as he faces an anti-casino challenger in the 2026 Republican primary.

Source:

Timeline of a high-stakes campaign to open North Carolina to the casino industry, newsobserver.com, May 9, 2025.