North Carolina residents have been waiting long enough, and the time is almost here. The launch of North Carolina sports betting is less than two months away, with operations set to go live on March 11, providing bettors in the state with the opportunity to register with the industry’s top online sportsbooks.

Those players will also be able to use North Carolina promo codes that unlock unique welcome bonuses to give you a head start on your online sports betting experience. Prior to the launch coming up before the ACC Basketball Tournament and March Madness, here’s what to know so you can hit the ground running on March 11.

Is Sports Betting Legal in North Carolina?

Online sports betting is not live in North Carolina, but that is going to change shortly. The North Carolina State Lottery Commission recently announced that operators will be able to launch operations at noon on March 11. The timing couldn’t be better for a number of reasons, the first of which being the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off March 12. 

This is a long time coming, with Gov. Roy Cooper signing the bill into law in June 2023. Originally expected to go live in January 2024, that timeline was extended but now has a finite date.

Who Can Bet on Sports in North Carolina?

Online sports betting in North Carolina will be available to anyone who is at least 21 years old and physically located in the state. All players will need to verify during registration that they are old enough to play, typically by entering the last four digits of their Social Security number. 

Players will also need to verify their location by turning on a Geolocator app on their computer or turning on their location when using the various mobile betting apps available to players. There is no getting around the requirements of age and location.

It’s important to note that many of the operators that will launch in North Carolina are also available in several different states. North Carolina bettors will be able to use those operators when they are in states where it’s legally operating, meaning your North Carolina account will work in other areas as long as that state has legalized online sports betting and the specific online sportsbook operates there. 

Any North Carolina-specific welcome bonus offers celebrating the launch will only be made available in the Tar Heel State, however.

Latest NC Sports Betting Updates

• January 24, 2024: The North Carolina State Lottery Commission votes to make March 11 the official launch date of online sports betting.
• June 14, 2023: Gov. Roy Cooper signs HB 347 into law, formally legalizing online sports betting in North Carolina.
• June 6, 2023: The North Carolina House of Representatives votes to pass HB 347, moving the bill to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk to be signed into law.
• June 1, 2023: The North Carolina Senate votes in favor of HB 347, moving the bill to the North Carolina House for a vote.
• March 13, 2023: Rep. Jason Saine introduces HB 347 in a bid to introduce legal online sports betting in the Tar Heel State.

What Does the NC Sports Betting Bill Entail?

The obvious significant part of HB 347, which was signed into law in June 2023 by Gov. Roy Cooper, was the legalization of online sports betting. This is huge for prospective sports bettors across the state, who will soon be able to place bets on their favorite teams like the Panthers, Hornets, Duke, North Carolina, and the Hurricanes. There are also a handful of smaller yet important items that bettors should know when getting ready to sign up.

• An 18% tax rate on all revenue from online sports betting; bettors should also know that any winnings they earn by the end of the calendar year are considered taxable income that must be declared as such
• Up to 11 online sportsbook licenses and up to two tribal licenses
• Collegiate sports betting, including games played in North Carolina and state-based schools
• A legal betting age of 21 years and older

What Sportsbooks Are Launching in NC?

There are about a dozen different online sportsbooks spread out across the United States. North Carolina is initially bringing eight of the industry’s elite to the table, all of which are expected to go live on March 11.

FanDuel Sportsbook North Carolina

One of the longest-standing online sportsbooks, FanDuel provides a stellar in-app experience and live-betting features for players to use on the go. We expect that the FanDuel North Carolina promo code offer will deliver $200 in bonus bets to all new players who sign up and place a $5 wager.

DraftKings Sportsbook North Carolina

Known originally for its Daily Fantasy Sports product, DraftKings offers an array of odds boosts and bonuses that allow bettors to choose the odds they use them on. The expectation is that all new players who sign up using the DraftKings North Carolina promo code offer and place a $5 wager will earn eight $25 bonus bets, totaling $200.

Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina

The newest entrant into the world of online sports betting, Fanatics is branching out from its large merchandise operations as a rebrand of the old PointsBet. We expect that bettors who sign up using the Fanatics NC promo code offer will receive up to $200 in bonus bets when they place a $10 wager each of the first five days following sign-up.

ESPN BET Sportsbook North Carolina

The worldwide leader in sports has joined the action, providing bettors with a great welcome bonus and unique odds boosts on ESPN-aired events. We expect that the ESPN BET North Carolina promo code offer will deliver $150 in bonus bets to all new players who sign up and place any wager.

BetMGM Sportsbook North Carolina

The top online sportsbook in North Carolina has something for everyone, from a great rewards program to odds boosts, and everything in between. We expect that all new players who sign up using the BetMGM North Carolina bonus code offer will receive a first-bet bonus of up to $1,000, meaning your initial wager earns cash profit with a win or matching bonus bets with a loss.

Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina

The official betting sponsor of the NFL provides bettors with the best mobile betting app experience, complete with an easy-to-use interface, fast refresh rates and response times, and navigable pages and odds. We believe new players who use the Caesars Sportsbook NC promo code offer will earn up to a $1,000 First Bet On Us that pays cash profit with a win or a single matching bonus bet with a loss.

Bet365 Sportsbook North Carolina

The world’s largest sports betting website is now making inroads in the United States, providing all bettors with a stellar gaming experience and competitive odds. Bettors who sign up using the bet365 North Carolina promo code offer should earn a First Bet Safety Net of up to $2,000.

Underdog Sports North Carolina

The most unique sports betting experience, Underdog Sports makes sports betting simple while also handing out some great boosts along the way. We expect that new players will receive up to a $100 deposit match bonus after signing up.

Which NC Teams or Venues Did Sportsbooks Partner With? 

As part of the agreement to launch online sports betting in North Carolina, all operators were required to partner with an in-state team, league, or venue. 

In addition to that regulation making online sports betting more accessible for players, it likely will include more bonuses and offers around those specific teams and sports–which benefits both sides as players can earn more while the teams, leagues, and venues all get more visibility and traction in the market. Here’s a list of the current partnerships that operators expected to go live in North Carolina have formed.

North Carolina Pre-Registration Planning To Go Live March 1st, 2024

We’ll need to wait until we get closer to the launch date to know for certain what pre-registration welcome bonus offers look like. That being said, we can draw on past states going live with online sports betting to make educated guesses on what those pre-registration offers will be. 

Typically, online sportsbooks will offer a guarantee of bonus bets that can be used once that operator goes live on March 11. These typically do not interfere with the standard welcome bonus offer, though you’ll want to check that to be certain before you decide which online sportsbook to use.

North Carolina Gambling Responsibility

Sports betting is fun as long as bettors are doing so safely and responsibly. It’s important to know your limits and play with a bankroll that allows you to not bet emotionally. Never bet what you can’t afford to lose, and take advantage of the resources that online sportsbooks provide, including cool-off periods, time limits, and account freezes. 

All operators will have an FAQ page that includes resources to help, and live chat options if you need help getting your betting under control.

North Carolina Betting Tips

Sports betting is a combination of skill and luck. Still, you can maximize your chances of both winning and having a great time by following these tips and tricks. 

• Be realistic: Everyone has dreams of hitting it big with online sports bets, but it’s important to understand the likelihood of your bets winning. Yes, a +45000 parlay pays out $45,000 on a $100 bet. It also has an implied probability of 0.2% of actually hitting. It’s fine to build big parlays every once in a while, but be realistic about the odds you’re betting on. Oddsmakers are calculated when making them.
• Correlate your picks: While oddsmakers will take this type of betting into account when formulating parlays, it makes sense for your picks to match up. Betting Bryce Young to throw over 1.5 touchdown passes means you think the Panthers offense will do well, so it makes sense to bet the over on Carolina’s team total. If you believe LaMelo Ball will go over 9.5 assists, it might make sense to also bet the over on Gordon Hayward’s point total.
• Understand matchups and schedules: The fastest and slowest NBA teams this season are separated by seven possessions per game. The best NBA defense allows 108 points per game; the worst allows nearly 125. Oddsmakers will consider this when making lines, but you can put yourself in a better position by understanding the opponents that your team or player is facing. Also, look at schedules. Is the team on the end of a long road trip? Is a team playing at home against a team playing in the second half of a back-to-back? All this matters.
• Do your research: There are a number of fantastic resources available for free that will help bettors make smarter bets. Whether it’s learning about the sport you’re betting on, understanding the trends of a certain team or player, or taking advantage of available boosts, doing your homework before placing bets will maximize your chances of earning profit.
• Enjoy yourself: Yes, you’re betting with real money. But the hope is that the bets you place aren’t the main source of income. Bet on teams and players you enjoy watching, never bet more than you can afford to lose and have fun with it.