North Carolina Sports Betting

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Until very recently, sports betting in North Carolina was both there and not. The state formally legalized the industry but in a severely limited capacity that didn’t make it much easier to bet on sports in NC. Many residents chose to make the trip to Virginia or Tennessee, where they could download a mobile app and bet remotely. It all changed in 2024 when North Carolina launched online sports betting statewide and welcomed a host of sportsbooks.

The state’s population has increased drastically over the past years, which prompted legislators to do a better job of regulating sports wagering and stopping potential tax revenue from slipping through the state’s fingers. 

The state has now seen multiple sportsbooks launch, with eight sportsbooks already in the state and people over the age of 21 allowed to bet on sports locally.

All of this was made possible only in 2024, several years after North Carolina began its first legislative effort to change the status quo and introduce mobile betting. Well, all of this is behind us now, and anyone who is of the legal gambling age can place a legitimate wager on sports within NC.

Latest Gambling News From North Carolina

Legal June 18, 2024

North Carolina Casino Project Implicated in Corruption Scandal A burgeoning corruption scandal in North Carolina has surfaced, linking campaign donations and casino developments to high-ranking state lawmakers and local officials. Former Rockingham County Commissioner Craig Travis filed a lawsuit alleging an intricate web of corruption, political manipulation, and campaign finance violations aimed at securing a casino in Stokesdale. Interested Parties Engaged in Intense […]

Sports April 30, 2024

North Carolina Gov. Cooper Supports Changes to Sports Betting Taxation Early in March, North Carolina became the latest state to launch its legal sports betting market. Joining a growing list of more than three dozen US states, The Tar Heel State rolled out mobile sports betting, providing sports fans and bettors alike a plethora of options for wagering on their favorite sports. As with any […]

Sports April 2, 2024

Prop Bet Ban Proposal Gets into the Spotlight amid Harassment toward Athletes The legalization of sports betting in North Carolina has attracted millions of dollars in bets and, by the end of the first week of legal wagering, almost $200 million was bet on sports. While many local fans were excited to support their local teams, some were not too happy when they lost their bets. While […]

Sports March 1, 2024

North Carolina’s Sports Betting in Time for March Madness Backed by the North Carolina government and the North Carolina Lottery Commission, which oversees the industry and laid the groundwork for the launch of sports gambling as early as 2023, sports gambling will arrive in The Tarheel State in time for March Madness, the colloquial name for NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, America’s single-most […]

Is North Carolina Sports Betting Legal Yet?

Yes, sports betting in North Carolina is legal, and there are numerous sportsbooks available – eight, in fact. In the meantime, there are also land-based facilities owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who initially opted for in-person sports betting only. However, in March 2024, all of this changed, with people now clamoring for the opportunity to place a flutter online – and succeeding!

Although sports betting in North Carolina was still not up and running by mid-2021, things moved quickly after that. North Carolina’s 10 million residents were able to place wagers on a number of excellent all-American and international sports, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and many others.

Even if they do, though, the issue remains the same. With North Carolina catering to some 10 million people, you are still in a position where you have to travel to two single locations, which is greatly restricting in the long run.

The original design of HB 154 legalized sports gambling at tribal casinos, and that was not ideal for consumers. Too many people wanted to place a bet without having to jump through too many hoops, so the push for a more liberal market continued to be sustained throughout March 2024, when things finally moved in the public’s favor.

North Carolina Sports Betting Apps: What Is Available?

As of 2024, you have sports betting apps in North Carolina. Despite an initial opposition by tribes, sports betting apps are finally available across the state, and they account for the bulk of the total sports betting handle.

Caesars, BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel all extend top-notch Android and iOS software that allows you to collect information about your bets, check in on updated odds, and generally place a selection quickly and without the need to talk to a soul at the casino if you choose not to. 

Another option is Fanatics Sportsbook, which is a fairly new entrant that succeeded the Barstool Sportsbook. Apps are now a buzzword in the state, following a period of in-person betting restrictions that was greatly limiting – but no more.

Daily Fantasy Sports and Mobile Betting in NC

While tribes and state regulators have given traditional sports betting apps a bit of a cold shoulder at first, it’s surprising to know that daily fantasy sports (DFS) were completely legal in North Carolina even before the launch of mobile betting. With this in mind, you can still access any of the fantasy operators that are licensed in the United States.

DraftKings and FanDuel are naturally the top choices to choose from as they allow you to quickly and reliably pick a betting market and do so legally. However, you may be tempted to stick to the traditional betting markets offered by these two companies instead!

Therefore, any winnings you generate through your sports betting acumen will be cashable in the state of North Carolina, giving you a satisfactory betting experience if fantasy sports are truly something you enjoy. 

When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal in North Carolina?

The big question back in the day was whether North Carolina would hurry up and regulate online sports betting. Making remote wagering legal was considered a priority, but it took several painful years through 2024. Once again, with 10 million residents and the state’s population growing rapidly, you can imagine that NC had a lot of pent-up demand for actual online betting. 

Risking to restrict sports betting to two sole locations to please tribal operators is ultimately hurtful to the state as it would fail to collect a lot of the revenue. If there were more properties out there pulling in more foot traffic and covering the entire state, it might have been better.

As things stand, though, locals need to drive in and for hours on end to place a single wager, which is counter-intuitive. The good news is that efforts to legalize online sports betting are underway.

Making North Carolina Online Wagering Legal in 2024

Not many were pleased with HB 154. The bill focused exclusively on land-based gambling and sports betting in a bid, it seems, to gain favor with the tribes, which are understandably protecting their interest. 

However, the long-term sustainability of sports betting in the state is contingent on the industry being freed up from the shackles of one-sided measures, and this is where mobile betting comes in doubly important.

Regulating betting through HB 154 seemed like a smart move at first, but it bred discontent and ultimately did not serve the higher purpose of collecting tax revenue, negating the impact of offshore sports betting in the state, and protecting consumers. 

Back when mobile betting was still debated, a countermeasure by Senators Jim Perry and Paul Lowe was proposed. SB 668 during the 2021 legislative session was a bid to free up the industry and introduce remote gambling. Their plan was very ambitious, and they wanted to allow more online betting in the state.

Essentially, SB 668 was looking to introduce a minimum of 10 sports betting licenses issued with the blessing of the NC Education Lottery Commission. The number was capped at 12. The bill also looked to expand the current scope of betting by quite a bit, featuring college sports, as well as professional events, and not least, competitive video gaming.

The licensing rates proposed by the bill were a fair game a well, with an 8% charged to the sports betting revenue and $500,000 paid for a five-year license with $100,000 renewal fees. 

What Sports Can You Bet on in North Carolina?

As the ninth most populous state in the USA, North Carolina is surely going to have plenty of excellent offers when it comes to actual sports franchises. You will be able to pick from the Carolina Hurricanes if you are an NHL fan or the Carolina Panthers for the NFL. There is also the Charlotte FC in the MLS and the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. 

Sports franchises in North Carolina are big, and the four outlined here will elicit a very strong interest. You can expect dedicated markets for each of the sports teams that are native to North Carolina and be able to pick from a wide variety of bets. Speaking of markets and wagers, sportsbooks in NC should go the full distance.

With sports betting shops already operating in full swing, there are many things to look forward to. For starters, you can pick from more than 30-odd sports and their hundreds, if not thousands, of associated betting markets. While a big emphasis is being placed on local sports franchises, there are other teams to naturally put a fluter on!

Sports fans have access to a complete variety of markets, including Moneylines, Point Spreads, Teasers and Pleasers, Totals, and Parlays. In-play sports betting is also authorized in North Carolina under current laws, which makes mobile betting even more fun!

Live betting markets, though, are becoming the definitive experience any sportsbook may offer, and with this in mind, it’s important to see more efforts made into their successful incorporation as part of the North Carolina sports betting climate. 

A Final Word: The Future of Sports Betting in NC

North Carolina is one of the best states to launch sports betting. The state’s tradition in sports and high population mean that any business that opens its doors can expect a steady and constant influx of sports wagers heading their way.

The state enjoys a strong interest in sports betting, and that is only going to get betteras mobile sports betting keeps picking momentum.

After all, you can wager on any sport from anywhere in the state in the blink of an eye, owing to the eight fantastic sportsbooks available locally. Although it took what some people have described as “forever,” sports betting and mobile sports betting are finally here!

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