North Carolina online sports betting launches statewide at noon on Monday, ahead of March Madness. 

Would-be bettors, or those currently wagering using off-shore/illegal sites, or with a retail bookie, have lots of questions about sports betting in North Carolina. Here is our “North Carolina Sports Betting Ultimate Guide” to answer some of those questions for you.

When Will Sports Betting Launch in North Carolina?

Legal, statewide online sports betting will begin in North Carolina at noon on Monday. For all involved, this is the most asked question. Operators need to know when they can begin their marketing and pre-registration push for new bettors. The public appetite for legal sports betting is undeniable. Gov. Roy Cooper said he wants to see it launch ahead of the March Madness. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins on March 19, with Selection Sunday falling on the 17th, St. Patrick’s Day. You can sign up with North Carolina Sportsbook Promo Codes when it launches.

RELATED: Where Will The Sports Betting Tax Revenue Go?

How Can I Bet On Sports Online In North Carolina?

There are 8 licensed online sports betting operators in North Carolina. They received their Certificates of Operation on February 29, 2024. Patrons will be able to place wagers through their North Carolina betting apps and online sites. Betting will be allowed for anyone eligible 21 or over physically located within the state’s boundaries. Geo-location technology can place people within 3 feet of their real physical location.

When Does Pre-Registration Begin In North Carolina?

Pre-registration for online North Carolina Sportsbooks began on March 1st, 2024. Check out the list of North Carolina betting apps accepting pre-registrations now: 

What Sportsbooks Can I Use In North Carolina? 

The 8 operators licensed to begin pre-registration on March 1st and wagering on Monday are: 

• BetMGM North Carolina
• ESPN BET North Carolina
• bet365 North Carolina
• Fanatics North Carolina
• FanDuel North Carolina
• DraftKings North Carolina
• Underdog North Carolina
• Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee - Caesars North Carolina will be operating their site

Caesars Sportsbook operates the site run by Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee. Caesars began taking online wagers on Indian land on March 1. It is able to do so because the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows native tribes to operate any gambling on their own lands that serve in the tribe's best interests. Caesars has been granted a license to be a service provider.

Catawba Two Kings Casino also applied for a license. 

RELATED: 8 Operators On Track For N.C. Sports Betting Launch

Why Are Sportsbooks Partnering With Teams Like The Panthers?

During the final budget approval process in the legislature last year, lawmakers added a provision to the sports betting law requiring sportsbook operators to have a "written designation agreement" with a professional sports team, and the owners of certain big-league sports venues. the PGA Tour or NASCAR before being licensed by the North Carolina Lottery Commission (NCLC). 

Who Are The Sports Partners Involved In North Carolina?

Here is a rundown of where North Carolina's things stands with each would-be operator and its partner. All these announced deals are subject to NCLC approval. 

• ESPN BET North Carolina (through its parent PENN Entertainment) and Quail Hollow Club, which plays host to the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour. (It's likely ESPN BET will sponsor that PGA Tour stop once the current deal with Wells Fargo ends.) 
• DraftKings North Carolina and NASCAR
• BetMGM North Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Bet365 North Carolina and the NBA's Charlotte Hornets 
• Fanatics North Carolina and the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes
• FanDuel North Carolina and the PGA Tour
• Underdog Sports North Carolina and Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.

The Tribes are not required to partner with any sports operator. 

The remaining would-be operators may enter into written designation agreements including the NC Courage of the NWSL, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, MLS franchise FC Charlotte, Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, and NASCAR.

Brooklyn-based Underdog Sports is a fantasy sports site. North Carolina has no plans to approve fantasy play any time soon. Underdog is licensed in Ohio to operate a sportsbook but has yet to launch there. 

What Will I Be Able To Bet On In North Carolina?

The sports betting catalog lists all the approved events upon which one can wager. It in many ways mirrors the one used in nearby states like Tennessee and Virginia. It includes professional and college sports (including teams based in North Carolina), major sporting events, niche sports, and special events like the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. 

Here are the events:

• Australian Rules Football
• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Biathlon
• Bowling
• Bowls
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Cycling
• Darts
• Disc
• Floorball
• Football - American
• Futsal
• Golf
• Handball
• Hockey - Field
• Hockey - Ice
• Jai - Alai
• Lacrosse
• MMA
• Motorsports
• Netball
• Olympics (Winter and Summer)
• Pesapallo
• Pool
• Rodeo
• Rowing
• Rugby League
• Rugby Union
• Sailing
• Snooker
• Soccer
• Soccer Beach
• Special Events
• Softball
• Summer Athletics
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Volleyball beach
• Waterpolo
• Winter Athletics

What Types Of Wagers Will Be Allowed In North Carolina?

The NCLC has approved a 64-page rules document that also mirrors those that exist in other states. The following types of wagers will be permitted: 

Exchange Wagering

A form of wagering in which two or more Persons place identically opposing wagers in a given market, allowing players to wager on both winning and non-winning outcomes in the same event.

In-Game Wagering

Placing a Sports Wager during a sporting event which is not an in-play wager.

In-Play Wagers

Proposition Wagers are placed on a specific action during the sporting event that could not be wagered on before the start of the sporting event.

Moneyline

Sports Wagers are placed on the winner of a sporting event.

Over-Under

Sports Wagers on the total of approved numerical aspects of one or more sporting events.

Parlays

Sports Wagers that combine two or more individual wagers and are dependent on all individual wagers winning.

Pool

An offering where Players may make selections of outcomes on a set number of sporting events and Wager type on a Card to enter for a chance to win the Prize Pool or a portion thereof.

Proposition Wagers

Sports Wagers are placed on the occurrence or non-occurrence of a specific outcome of events within a sporting event not directly involving the sporting event’s final outcome.

Single-Game wagers

One or more Sports Wagers which take place on or within a single sporting event.

Straight Wagers

Sports Wagers placed on a sporting event’s final outcome prior to its start that will be determined by an over-under, point spread, moneyline, or total score.

Teaser Wagers

Parlays where the player adjusts the point spread or over-under resulting in a change of payout.

What Wagers Will Not Be Allowed In North Carolina?

Wagering on youth sports, elementary, middle school, and high-school events, or any event in which the majority of the participants are under 18 is not allowed. 

Wagering is not allowed on any of the following:

•  The occurrence of injuries.
•  The occurrence of penalties.
•  The outcome of disciplinary proceedings against a participant in a sporting event.
•  The outcome of replay reviews.

Wagering on entertainment awards like the Oscars, or political events, is also prohibited. 

Who’s In Charge Of Sports Betting In North Carolina?

The Sports Wagering and Horse Race Wagering law signed by Gov. Roy Cooper empowers the NCLC to create and implement all rules and regulations, and regulate all aspects of each practice, and govern operators, suppliers, and vendors.

Who Are The Key Players In North Carolina?

Gov. Cooper is the main force at play. The NCLC is in charge of getting the work done. Gov. Cooper appointed 5 of the 9 Commission members. Ripley Rand is the Chair of the Commission. Sterl Carpenter is the Deputy Executive Director of gaming Compliance & Sports Betting. He held a similar role in Massachusetts, which launched mobile and retail sports betting last year.

North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline

• 📅 March 11, 2024: Mobile, legal, online sports betting begins at 12 noon
• 📅 March 1, 2024: Operators begin pre-registration of customers at 12 noon and Caesars begins taking online wagers on Indian lands through its agreement with the East Cherokee tribe
• 📅 Feb. 29, 2024: 7 Operators Are Granted Certificates of Operation: ESPNBET, Bet365, BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, and Underdog Sports
• 📅 Feb. 13, 2024: A Meredith Poll reveals that 57% of North Carolina voters support the expansion of online casino gaming in the state
• 📅 Jan. 30: Caesars officially announces its plans to expand to online betting in North Carolina
  📅 Jan. 24: Sports betting will begin on March 11 and pre-registration starts on March 1
• 📅 Jan. 10: Gaming officials announce that Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee and Catawba Two Kings Casino have applied for sports betting licenses, bringing the total to 9
• 📅 Dec. 29: 7 operators and 7 service providers apply for North Carolina sports betting licenses. The books are BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings, ESPN BET, FanDuel, Fanatics and Underdog Sports
• 📅 Dec. 21: Gov. Cooper expects North Carolina sports betting to launch in time for March Madness
• 📅 Dec. 15: Fanatics will partner with the Carolina Hurricanes
• 📅 Dec. 13: Fourteen operators have requested sports betting license applications
• 📅Dec. 7: FanDuel partners with the PGA Tour in North Carolina.
• 📅Dec. 5: ESPN BET announces a partnership with Charlotte golf course Quail Hollow Club.
• 📅  November 29: Application deadline set for Dec. 27, with a 60-day period to review each applicant. 
• 📅  November 17: Bet365 and Charlotte Hornets announce sponsorship deal, the first step necessary for the sportsbook to operate in North Carolina.
• 📅  November 17: The public comment period closes on a revised set of sports betting and parimutuel wagering rules proposed by the Sports Betting Committee.
• .📅  November 16: The Lottery Commission approves an amended set of betting rules for public comment, the proposed Sports Betting Catalog, and formally passes on including Fantasy Sports in North Carolina until further notice.
• .📅  November 7: The Sports Betting Committee posts updated rules for governing sports betting and parimutuel wagering.
• 📅  October 27: The Sports Betting Committee holds a public hearing to discuss the rules governing sports betting.
• 📅  October 17: A set of proposed rules governing sports betting and parimutuel wagering is approved for posting by the Sports Betting Committee.
• 📅  October 2: State budget takes effect that changes the licensing process for sportsbooks and eliminates a cap on the number of books allowed.
• 📅  September 27: North Carolina State Lottery forms Sports Betting Committee.
• 📅  August 31:  North Carolina State Lottery hires Gaming Laboratories Inc. to assist with the launch of North Carolina sports betting.
• 📅  July 31: The North Carolina State Lottery Commission names Sterl Carpenter as executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting
• 📅  June 14: Governor Cooper signed HB 347 into law; the bill allows for up to 12 mobile sportsbooks, which could launch as soon as January 8, 2024. The latest NC sports betting can launch is June 14, 2024.
• 📅  June 7: The House votes 68-45 to concur with the Senate's changes to HB 347. The bill now awaits the signature of Gov. Cooper.
• 📅  September 22, 2022: A $30 billion budget clears the state House and Senate that includes language stripping away the power to initially allow sports betting operators from the N.C. State Lottery Commission.

How Much Revenue Will North Carolina Get From Sports Betting?

North Carolina will collect a $1 million licensing fee for each online gambling provider (i.e., FanDuel, DraftKings, etc.). Net revenues will be taxed at 14%, which is lower than the rate on online operators elsewhere. Lawmakers gave operators a big break when they opted not to tax the revenues derived from bonus offers and promotional credits until January 1, 2025. Other states make operators pay taxes on the net winnings from such offers. The ability to deduct those promotions and bonuses will limit the amount of revenue collected by the state. Lawmakers expect upwards of $42 million in state revenue by FY 2027-28. 

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