Is Poker About to Come to North Carolina?

An AP story a day or so ago said that the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians met with advisors to North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley to discuss a new gambling agreement with the state. The reason for this get-together, according to tribal officials, is their desire to add live poker at its casino.

The tribe believes poker holds a winning hand for them, as well as for local residents. They envision an additional 430 jobs along with a $15.2 million payroll once their poker room is operational. The tribe sees this expansion as a way to compete with the cheap airfare and accommodations offered by other casinos in the Southeast.The Cherokees' existing casino offers 3,500 video games for slots, poker and blackjack. The casino is run by Harrah's under a contract with the tribe.

According to a spokesperson for the governor, the parties only need to work out the details of the gambling agreement.

This is pretty compelling evidence that interest in poker has not waned, nor is it about to. North Carolina has been a state without legal poker and residents have either had to travel out-of-state to play, or satisfy their poker Jones online.

With a revised agreement in place, a Cherokee poker room will provide easy access to poker players and jobs too. Sounds like a winning hand to me.