As reported by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, the state’s sports betting handle increased by 128% year-on-year and reached $665.9 million in December 2025.
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US Kinston council candidate arrested for illegal gambling
Former Kinston council candidate and community activist in North Carolina, Quarla Blackwell, is facing charges in connection with operating an illegal online casino on Facebook.
Blackwell, 51, was arrested on December 23, 2025, and charged with four counts of money laundering and two counts of illegal gambling.
Investigators believe Blackwell operated an online casino through the Facebook platform by promoting and facilitating server-based games. The activities offered on the platform were described as betting money to initiate randomized spins and participating in digital “fish table” games.
After her arrest, a short post appeared on her Facebook page.
The post stated:
“As long as I’ve been playing on these fish tables, now it’s a crime.”
This was not the first legal action that Blackwell has faced. In September 2025, she was charged with perjury and falsely swearing about disclosures filed during her candidacy for the city council. She later stated that her rights had been restored as of 2025, but police records show they were to be restored only in 2028.
Blackwell then filed an election protest for a new vote; however, the State Board of Elections denied the request.
Underdog is exiting the North Carolina sports betting market and will cease betting on December 16, 2025, with full sportsbook operations ending on December 17, 2025.The...
