"Having a new resident in North Carolina’s Executive Mansion has improved the prospects of an expansion of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ casino.

The Asheville Citizen-Times recently reported that Gov. Bev Perdue hasn’t ruled out live games at the casino, which is owned by the Cherokee but operated by Harrah’s.

"I’m always available to talk to the Cherokee tribe about what it is they envision and how they want to get there," Perdue told the newspaper. "I am going to have a conversation. I don’t know what the contract allows, but we’re going to work together."

Currently, gambling at the casino in western North Carolina is limited to video gambling machines. Those are the terms stipulated in a pact between the Cherokee and former Gov. Jim Hunt.

The Cherokee believe that having live gambling, where in a reverse of today’s world of technology, people would replace machines, would draw in more tourists. Some suggest such a move could add up to 1,000 jobs and potentially bring in 1.5 million more tourists. About 1,700 people work at the casino now."

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Editorial: State should allow live casino games (The Jacksonville Daily News 9/4)