Nash County residents met with state and local representatives Friday evening to discuss the impacts of a drafted casino bill.
The bill doesn’t list those counties by name. Instead, it spells out criteria for eligible counties, including located east of Interstate 77, a border county or one traversed by Interstate 95, having a population of less than 100,000 people and being one of the 40 most economically depressed counties in the state.
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Among the locations discussed was Rocky Mount, just off of U.S. Highway 64. North Carolina representative Allen Chesser (R-Nash) attended the meeting, saying Nash County fits the criteria needed for the casino.
"[Nash County] meets all the criteria for all counties that would be eligible for the site," Chesser said. "[A} private entity is looking at Nash to develop."
Casino developers have their eyes on the land, but state lawmakers have to finalize a plan allowing casinos in the state before moving forward.
Chesser said the casino would be a resort-style, bringing in anywhere between 4,500 and 9,000 hospitality jobs to the state that would have significant economic impact to 26 counties, including Nash County.
"[This is} not a Nash County alone issue, it's a regional issue," Chesser said.
In July, House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters that new casinos would be in Anson, Nash and Rockingham counties. A fourth casino, run by the Lumbee Tribe in the southeastern part of the state, is also under consideration.
North Carolinians have taken note of the casino that opened in Danville, Virginia, and the economic impact it has brought to Virginia.
In just the casino’s first two weeks, $12 million in gambling revenue was generated for the state of Virginia.
Supporters of the casino see the prospect of casinos in the state as a great economic opportunity for Nash County.
Opponents, however, said they’re concerned about the infrastructure of the casino and gambling habits. Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone is concerned about providing adequate security around the casino.
"Do you think we could respond? Probably not to the level we need to be," Stone said.
While state lawmakers will need to finalize a plan before more casinos are allowed in the state, Nash County residents want to have the final say.
"Let us have a local referendum in the bill to vote on it," Nash County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robbie Davis said. "[A] controversial item like this, the people have to be involved."