History has been made in NC, with the House endorsing a bill that would allow sports and off-track horse racing betting within Native American casinos. Now only requiring a signature from Governor Roy Cooper, this development brings about a major shift in what could prove to be a pattern in the future.

At the current point in time, this bill would be limited in scope. Only one tribal casino operator, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, makes its home in NC. With two casinos under their belt, this means the effects of this bill passing, at least in terms of access numbers, would still be relegated to a small portion of NC.

This bill also confines sports betting to in-person wagers. In other words, bets cannot be placed for others and must be played by the patron within the casino themselves.

Support for the bill from politicians has been largely one-sided, as the House vote passed 90-27. Representative Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) noted that he expects this bill to generate around $14 million a year for the tribe, which would translate to around $1 million in taxes per year for the state.

Part of the importance of this bill ties into the growing popularity of online gambling, which has seen immense development over the last few years. Still on an upward trend, this form of digital gaming generates billions annually, of which this casino bill could allow NC to take a portion.

The result of this development, however, will be determined by later bills and the shifting trends towards digital gaming which many populations including those in NC are taking.

Punters in NC, while still interested in physical casinos, are also developed in their appreciation of digital offerings. For many gamblers, these casinos are considered superior, and this gap is only widening. It is common for online casinos to offer bonuses like deposit matches and free spins among their multitude of other advantages, and the scene in NC both online and off have noticed this shift.

Ultimately, this raises questions as to the maximum positive effect which this bill and similar efforts could have in terms of the generation of revenue for tribal casinos and the state both. Indeed, there will always be a baseline appreciation of these traditional types of casino. On the other hand, as the equilibrium between the contemporary and traditional has not yet been reached, it is difficult to predict where exactly the final line will fall.

Illustrating this concern is a recently proposed development for a new Charlotte Hard Rock Hotel and  Casino costing $600 million. This massive investment had boasted about the creation of around 5,000 jobs in the surrounding area, but so far development seems to have stalled.

At the very least, the current belief from industry insiders is that Governor Cooper looks likely to put his signature to this new bill. In this case, expect this form of sports and off-track horse-racing to reach NC before the end of the year.

While you will always hear “next year is going to be the big one” when folks talk about technology, in the case of 2019, this isn’t a cliché – indeed, one look at 2019’s lineup is enough to rev up any silicon connoisseur. From a veritable cornucopia of computer monitors, graphics cards, gaming laptops and processors to wonderful and weird headsets, mice and gaming keyboards, this is going to be the year for advanced computer gaming tech.

This is also the year of “chiplets,” what with both Intel and AMD doubling down on interconnected, flexible tech; AMD’s Zen 2 is scheduled to be the first out of the gate, fusing 7nm Zen 2 core clusters with a 14nm I/O chip that behaves like an intermediary, while Intel delivers its own brand of interconnectivity via the Foveros 3D stacking technology coupled with the 10nm manufacturing node.

Let’s take a look at some of the gaming tech that definitely piqued our interest for 2019.

SteelSeries QcK Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad

While the inclusion of a mere mouse pad may not make eyebrows pick up in the highly competitive computer accessories/gaming world, this is something different. Indeed, if it’s additional control over the movements of your gaming mouse that you need, the QcK cloth pad provides a smooth surface for the ultimate in gaming performance. Gamers have described the experience as providing “pinpoint accuracy” aided by a high thread count that ensures success for both optical and laser sensors.

The pad also boasts a rubber base with non-slip elements that provides grip on any surface, and is available in various sizes ranging from small to XXL and in a range of thickness options.

Oculus Rift VR System

Hardcore gamers, listen up: It’s time to get excited about the Oculus Rift VR system, a gaming-specific product that comes bundled with controllers and a headset for high-performance game nights. Ideal for PC gaming, the Rift VR comes with six games preinstalled, making it the ultimate virtual reality experience and one which delivers a highly-immersive gamescape that overwhelms the senses with intensity.

Powered by PC and supporting Windows 7 and 8.1 (but requiring Windows 10 for the updated apps and features), the VR gaming system boasts intuitive touch controllers that bring high accuracy and an intuitive game feel. Further, the integrated audio is also on a different level than other gaming systems, enhancing the virtual reality experience in a myriad of ways.

Astro A50 Gaming Headset

A rabid gaming enthusiast knows the value of a premium headset when it comes to enhancing his or her gaming experience, and the Astro A50 is that gaming headset. Optimized for PC, Mac and Xbox platforms, the A50 takes high-quality audio and ergonomics to new heights, ultimately boosting gaming fun to an incredible extent. Boasting the latest features such as ASTRO Base Station, the A50 yields crystal-clear communication and comes powered by legendary Dolby surround sound and MixAmp technology.

Kontrolfreek Alpha Thumb Grips

No self-respecting gamer would ever want to forfeit a win simply because of a thumb slip – and while a common accident, it can cost such a hardcore gamer a really big game. Into this foray has come one of the coolest pieces of gaming gear, the Alpha thumb grips from Kontrolfreek, made from easy-grip and breathable material. This substance allows the grips to prevent the greases and oils of the hands from reaching the gaming controllers, all while increasing the area of small control buttons, such as those that accompany the PS4 controller.

Investing in any of the aforementioned products will show that you’re serious about taking your game to the next plateau. 

Up and down the United States of America, the solar panel industry continues to grow. Solar energy already accounts for 1.6 percent of total energy generation in the US – which exceeds the one-percent global percentage – and International Business Times further forecasts enormous growth over the next several years, with federal and state governments actively encouraging solar energy expansion.

Not one to miss out, Charlotte and many other cities and towns in North Carolina have been showing their desire to be more environmentally friendly. A trend is sweeping across Charlotte, which is seeing many homes and businesses put up solar panels. So, as a consumer or a person of business, how can you capitalize on the rise in solar panel installations in Charlotte?

NC businesses and residents driving the solar trend

The state of North Carolina has seen many of its businesses, both big and small, catch headlines with their eco-friendly energy initiatives. Earlier in July 2019, Charlotte-headquartered Duke Energy passed an incredible milestone of 1-gigawatt of utility-scale solar facilities that they own and operate across the US. The North Carolina-based business boasts sites in ten states, serving eco-friendly energy to around two million homes.

Small businesses in the state are also keen to show that they are progressive when it comes to being friendlier to the environment, with the Brews From The Sun competition. Each year, the competition has people vote for their favorite solar-powered breweries across the country, with the top three in 2019 all being based in NC.

Solar fever is sweeping across North Carolina, with residents of the state, particularly in Charlotte, more than willing to get involved. Earlier this year, Kiplinger caught up with Charlotte couple Ivica Bilich and Jennifer Twiggs. The two detailed that due to the fall in the cost of solar panels, the hefty tax credits available, and the rise in energy bills, solar panels have finally become a money-saving option.

After incentives, such as 30 percent off via federal tax credit and a hefty rebate from Duke Energy, their total cost came to $9,680, which they’ll recoup in nine years. You’ll hear many other Charlotte residents recount a similar tale of solar energy finally becoming affordable to set up as well as being able to save thousands down the line.

Charlotte wants more solar businesses

The solar panel industry continues to grow across the state of North Carolina, making openings for savvy businesspeople to set up shop and make the most of this boom.

If you want to make the most of this opportunity, you’ll need to be fully prepared for what being in the industry entails. Being a relatively new and tech-forward scene, you’ll want to know more than just construction basics. A solar-panel business is expected to conduct surveys, install panels, deal with financing, support customers, perform repairs, and keep up with maintenance to ensure the customer gets the best return on their investment at all times.

As you can see, a lot goes into operating a solar-panel business, not to mention the knowledge needed to explain to customers how solar panels works, and to be able to keep up with advancements in the field. A team will always be advised so that you can cover all bases. Naturally, you’ll want to be covered with professional liability by Next Insurance if you’re doing the installations, or advise your installer to get covered in case your installations cause any damage to the customer’s roof or house. Then, you’ll want someone with a good business mind and thirst for knowledge working behind the scenes if you are not doing so yourself.

The people of Charlotte and North Carolina are taking to solar panels very quickly: will you join in the trend to be more eco-friendly or be one of the businesses helping residents to save money on their energy bills?