Everything to Know About Mobile Sports Betting in North Carolina
North Carolina Sports Betting: Mobile Launch Set for March 11
North Carolina is set to become the latest U.S. state to offer legalized sports betting, with the official launch date just around the corner.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to set March 11 as the day in which bettors can begin placing wagers via their mobile devices. Conveniently, that’s one day before the start of the ACC men’s basketball tournament in Washington, D.C., where online betting is also legal. The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments tip off later in March.
A 2023 law approved by the state legislature and signed by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said sports betting could start no later than June 15. Jan. 8 was the first eligible date.
What does it all mean? Here’s everything to know about the roll out for North Carolina sports betting.
We have a date: The North Carolina Lottery Commission voted today to allow mobile sports betting starting March 11 at noon. You will be able to create betting accounts starting March 1.
The ACC men’s basketball tournament starts March 12
March Madness starts March 19 @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/KZN8dmWm3y
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) January 24, 2024
When Can Bettors Start Signing Up?
While bettors won’t be able to place any wagers until March 11, they can create new accounts and deposit money with a licensed operator starting March 1 at noon ET. Bettors are required to be age 21 or older.
The launch date coincides with one of the busiest months on the sports calendar, with the NCAA Tournament seguing into the final weeks of the NBA and NHL regular seasons and Opening Day for MLB.
What Sports Are Available to Wager On?
Several, in fact, including the four major sports (MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL), college basketball and football, the PGA Tour, NASCAR and Olympic-style sports. Notably, betting on horse racing will have a different start date, the rules for which are still being drafted.
What’s unclear is whether in-state schools (North Carolina, Duke, NC State, etc.) will be sanctioned from betting boards. In states such as Connecticut, for example, bettors are ineligible from wagering on UConn and other local colleges. The same limitations apply in Virginia and so on.
What Operators Are Available?
Recent changes to licensing stipulated that each operator must partner with a pro sports team, venue or organization. At the moment, seven new gambling sites possess authorized mobile betting licenses in the state.
They are as follows:
- DraftKings NC (NASCAR)
- FanDuel NC (PGA Tour)
- bet365 NC (Charlotte Hornets)
- Fanatics Sportsbook NC (Carolina Hurricanes)
- PENN Entertainment (Quail Hollow Golf Club)
- Underdog Sports NC (McConnell Golf)
- Bet MGM NC (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
To date, nine entities have submitted applications with the commission for North Carolina sports betting. Reviews remain ongoing.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Catawba Indian Nation, both of which have in-person sportsbooks at their casinos, have also applied for licenses.
What About In-Person Betting?
In-person betting will start at a later date. According to the commission, those rules will follow on a case-by-case basis as operators meet standard requirements.
How Many States Now Offer In-Person Betting?
Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia already offer mobile sports betting. According to the American Gaming Association, five other states are currently in the stage of active legislation: Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma.
For the latest North Carolina sports betting news, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
