North Carolina sports betting launch: Sportsbook offers, timeline & key details

The era of North Carolina online sports betting began on March 11, 2024, just in time for the ACC Tournament and March Madness. Now that the first North Carolina online sports betting sites have gone live, you may sign up for sportsbook accounts and start claiming their generous welcome bonuses.

Here is everything you need to know about the launch of online sports betting in North Carolina, including information on NC sportsbook promos, which apps are available, NC’s online sports betting legislation, how licensing works, and what sports will be available for betting. 

Which NC sports betting apps launched on March 11, and what are their welcome offers?

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To receive a license to operate in North Carolina, online sportsbooks must have a partner in the state. Partners include professional sports teams and facilities with a capacity of at least 17,000. Also, the two federally-recognized Native American tribes in NC are potential partners for online sportsbook operators. 

In all, a maximum of 13 online sportsbooks can launch in North Carolina. As of the start of NC online betting on March 11, no less than eight NC online sports betting sites went live.    

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Here is a look at the current state of NC's online sports betting market, with the sportsbooks, their partners, and pre-live promo codes and welcome offers. 

*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms

RELATED: NC Sports Betting Apps | UNC Basketball odds | Duke Basketball odds

NC expands to mobile sports betting

Back in 2019, North Carolina legalized in-person sports betting at the state’s tribal casinos. Then, the first retail sportsbooks opened at the two Cherokee casinos in 2021. It wasn’t until 2023 that lawmakers finally legalized online sports betting by passing HB 347, the Sports Wagering/Horse Race Wagering Act.

The bill passed the House by a 64-45 vote, then the Senate by a wider 38-11 margin. Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bill into law on June 14, 2023, and over the subsequent months, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) worked to hammer out regulations for operators entering the new NC online sports betting market.

During that period, the NC fall budget process introduced some changes in the legislation. These included reducing the number of available licenses from 12 to 11, plus the two available from the Cherokee and Catawba tribes. Another major change included the requirement that operators partner with an in-state sports organization (or the two tribes). 

By the end of 2023, the regulations were in place, and operators submitted the first applications. Those accepted by the NCEL are eligible to go live on the March 11, 2024 launch date.

Key developments in NC sports betting launch

• Mar. 11, 2024: The first North Carolina online sports betting sites go live at 12 noon ET.
• Mar. 1, 2024: Pre-registration opens at the first NC online sportsbooks.
• Feb. 19, 2024: The NCEL Commission's Sports Betting Committee provides an update, sharing that the eight online sportsbooks anticipated to launch on March 11 are all on track to do so. 
• Jan. 30, 2024: Caesars and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians formally announce a mobile sports betting partnership, allowing Caesars Sportsbook to enter the NC online sports betting market.
• Jan. 24, 2024: The North Carolina Lottery Commission announces an online sports betting launch date of March 11.
• Jan. 23, 2024: Underdog Sports and Sedgefield Country Club announce a partnership, giving Underdog online NC sports betting market access.
• Jan. 5, 2024: DraftKings and NASCAR announce their partnership, while BetMGM and Charlotte Motor Speedway also announce they have partnered.
• Dec. 29, 2023: NCEL Commission announces that seven online sportsbooks met the recommended application deadline to launch on March 11: FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Bet365, Fanatics, ESPN Bet, and Underdog Sports. The commission also announces Caesars’ application for a service provider license, thereby indicating its intention to partner with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to launch in NC.
• Dec. 15, 2023: Fanatics and the Carolina Hurricanes partner.
• Dec. 7, 2023: FanDuel and the PGA Tour partner. 
• Dec. 5, 2023: Penn Entertainment partners with the Quail Hollow Club to pave the way for ESPN Bet to launch in NC.
• Nov. 18, 2023: Bet365 and the Charlotte Hornets partner.

What sports can I bet on in North Carolina?

The new regulations outline exactly which sports can be available for betting in North Carolina. It is a long list, including no fewer than 45 different sports. The sites won’t have betting on all 45, but most will offer wagering on at least 20 sports. Sports you can bet on in NC include:

• Aussie rules football
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Football
• Golf
• Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Mixed martial arts
• Motorsports
• Rugby 
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis

The list doesn’t end there. Expect to find some betting markets for darts, jai-alai, table tennis, and water polo despite their relative obscurity among US sports fans. You can also bet on events at the Olympics, and you can even bet on Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, along with other special events. 

NC online sportsbook licensing

For commercial online sports betting operators, the first step was to find a partner among the 11 available teams, leagues/tours, and venues listed in the table above. That partnership requires the two sides to have a “written designated agreement” in place, after which the operator can submit its license application to the NCEL’s Sports Betting Committee.

The review process that followed includes the committee verifying the internal controls of the online sportsbook. That includes making sure all of the operator’s procedures (e.g., accounting, administrative, fraud prevention, reporting, surveillance) are in place and working as they should. 

Once the internal controls are approved, the operator must wait for a certificate of compliance from the NCEL. Receiving that certificate requires the site to go through more audits and tests of its integrity and security. 

The two tribal casinos and their partners also have to go through similar procedures to operate in the state. The Eastern Band of Cherokees and Caesars were able to forge their agreement and submit their application in time to be eligible to launch on March 11 along with the other seven sites (pending they all receive approvals from regulators and their licenses). 

On February 29, 2024, the NC State Lottery Commission issued the first interactive sports wagering operator licenses to seven operators -- FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, Bet365, Caesars, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, and Underdog. Caesars, as a different type of licensee via its partnership with the Cherokees, is treated differently by state regulators.

When will more NC retail sportsbooks launch?

Right now, the only retail sportsbooks operating in North Carolina are at the three tribal casinos. There are Caesars Sportsbooks at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (in Cherokee), Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River (in Murphy), and Catawba Two Kings Casino (in Kings Mountain).

The new law authorizing online sports betting also contains a provision allowing more retail sportsbooks to open in North Carolina. The law permits in-person sports betting at up to eight new locations—all major professional sports venues. Those locations are as follows.

No timeline has been announced regarding when the new retail sportsbooks might be opening. Understandably, most of the focus has been concentrated on the launch of online sports betting in the state. It is possible, however, that later in 2024, especially as football season nears, there may be news regarding the new in-person sites. 

NC sports betting launch FAQ

Is it legal to bet on sports in NC?

Yes, sports betting is legal in North Carolina. Online sports betting was legalized in 2023, with the first sites launching on March 11, 2024. Retail sports betting is also allowed in certain locations.

Where can I bet on sports in North Carolina?

You can bet on sports using NC online sports betting apps and sites from anywhere in the state. You can also bet on sports in person at the state’s three tribal casinos, with more in-person sites likely to open in the future. Be aware that in order to bet on sports either online or at a retail site in NC, you must be at least 21 years old. 

What sports betting apps are available in North Carolina?

Sports betting apps now live in North Carolina include Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Underdog Sports. All of these sites are offering North Carolina sports betting bonuses to new sign-ups.

Can I bet on college sports in North Carolina? 

Yes, in North Carolina, you can bet on both professional and collegiate sports. You can also wager on sports involving North Carolina colleges and universities, meaning you can bet on UNC and Duke basketball and any other games involving NC schools. Some states prohibit wagering on in-state schools. For example, Virginia does not allow it. But in NC, there is no such restriction.