A formal grievance has been lodged by veteran government accountability advocate Bob Hall, alleging that a significant amount of contributions, amounting to $885,000, were given to an array of elected officials and aspirants, which included influential figures from both parties, by donors linked to the video gambling sector earlier this week.
The said complaint also pointed out that a multiple of the same set of donors have reportedly contributed to the campaign endeavors of prominent Republican Party individuals such as Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, all of which occurred on the same day.
Contributions Made During the Period of 2019-2022
Prior to the deliberation on the legalisation and regulation of the video gambling industry in 2021, these questionable contributions, which seem to have violated the prevailing campaign finance laws, were made.
Hall provides, that several of these reported contributions were made towards the end of the election period, either post the final campaign disclosure report due date or post the election round. Allegedly, contributions worth $230,660 were registered past October 25, 2022.
In the complaint, Hall alluded to the fact that many of the implicated donors were members of the North Carolina Coin Operators Association (NCCOA). This association, established in 2019, represents the industry.
The complaint makes allegations that a range of members and companies related to NCCOA “collaboratively delivered unprecedented funds to pertinent state legislators,” in effect, violating their obligations of setting up a political committee and skirting reporting stipulations and limits set for political action committees (PAC).
According to Hall, by deliberately choosing not to register as a PAC, these donors were able to bypass mandatory disclosure laws related to fundraising activities and simultaneously evade limits around the timing and amount of donations that such a committee could make.
Although the individual donations made to legislators were below the $5,600 threshold, when cumulatively considered as a set of donations from donors who should have been recognized as a PAC, the total contributions greatly surpassed the donation limit, as per the complaint.
Donations Disclosed in January 2023
As the contributions highlighted by Hall were not unveiled until the onset of the year, the former seasoned executive of Democracy NC stated that the media and the public were left in the dark about the magnitude and frequency of donations prior to the election.
Addressing the State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, Hall filed his grievance during a time when lawmakers are striving to revive the previously failed gambling bill of 2021.
In the event of approval of new legislation that would legalize video gambling in North Carolina, the task of regulating the industry will be taken by the state lottery commission. As of mid-March, lawmakers from the Tar Heel State were optimistic that a prospective sports betting bill might also gather the needed endorsement to make headway.
