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The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Tribe is deciding whether it's worth the gamble to build a new casino in western North Carolina.
That has residents in Murphy betting on what a new casino would do to their town.
"On one side, I think it would bring a lot of revenue into our community," says Maurice Spiegel, a candy store owner.
"[The] King James bible will tell you. You're not suppose to gamble," counters Terry Jones, an auto shop owner.
Neighbors in Murphy have followed the gambling discussion for decades. Just a hour from here, the town of Cherokee houses one of the biggest casinos in the state.
Now the Eastern Band is now considering building another casino closer to the Tennessee State Line, right in Murphy's backyard.
"I think it's wrong. We like our town the way it is," says resident Sharon Clinger.
A spokesman for the Cherokee Nation says that employment for their people is low. A new casino would bring new jobs and positive economic development for the state.
"I don't think it would, says Clinger. "It might help the casino. But I don't think It would help Murphy."
"Anytime you've got gambling you've got people that over extend yourselves and get desperate and rob stores and a lot of things," says Ken Parker.
The tribe has conducted a feasibilty study and are now in the final stages of deciding whether or not to procede with the project. That includes finding a site and working with the state on proper access roads.
"I don't know whether it would enhance the traffic because normally when people go to the casios to gamble, they go to the casinos to gamble," says Speigel.
"It's really your motive are you spending diaper money on it? Or are you doing it like you're going to the movies?" asks Colby Jenkins.
Whether the new gambling facility will pay off is something residents here will follow closely.
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