Best North Carolina sports betting promos and bonuses for football season

Looking for North Carolina online sportsbook bonuses? You’ve come to the right place. On March 11, 2024, the Tar Heel State joined the list of online sports betting states with the launch of the first NC online sportsbooks. This is the first football season of legal sports betting in the state.

The first wave of NC online sports betting sites includes eight sportsbooks, with more potentially to come. Among the top sportsbooks to launch in NC are Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings, and all of these sites offer NC online sportsbook bonuses and welcome offers.

Read on for information about these sportsbooks and how to claiming the sports betting promos and bonuses they offer. You’ll find everything you need to know here about the best North Carolina online sports betting sites.

North Carolina sportsbook welcome promos

With online sports betting now live in NC, the new North Carolina sportsbooks boast generous welcome offers for new sign-ups. Here’s a rundown of NC's top sports betting sites and their welcome offers coinciding with the launch:

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

Top North Carolina online sports betting sites for NFL and college football

Here is more about each of our recommendations for the best North Carolina sports betting sites and their welcome offers:

Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina 

Caesars Sportsbook is a favorite choice across the US, including in North Carolina.  Caesars offers a First Bet on the house for up to $1,000. This means that if your first bet loses, you'll receive the entire stake back, up to $1,000, as betting credit.

Caesars is partnering with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to operate in NC. One reason for Caesars Sportsbook's popularity is its easy-to-navigate interface, which is a good thing since you’ll find a huge selection of betting options at Caesars. The site features 20-plus sports and leagues with lots of games and tremendous market depth all around. You’ll find tons of pregame bets, alternate lines, props, futures, live betting opportunities and more.

Caesars Sportsbook is also great when it comes to bonuses and promotions. The site regularly offers daily odds boosts and “no sweat” same game parlays. You’ll also find other promos like sweepstakes drawings and refer-a-friend bonuses. Don’t forget as well that everyone who signs up at Caesars gets to participate in the renowed Caesars Rewards loyalty program.

FanDuel Sportsbook North Carolina promo code

FanDuel Sportsbook is the single most popular online sports betting site across the US right now, so it's no surprise that it's the most popular sportsbook app in NC so far. For NC bettors, FanDuel has a terrific welcome offer that requires new sign-ups to make an initial wager of at least $5 to receive $200 in guaranteed bonus bets. 

FanDuel partnered with the PGA Tour to offer online sports betting NC. FanDuel users can use the same account for both FanDuel daily fantasy sports and the new online sportsbook. FanDuel Sportsbook regularly offers a large selection of wagering opportunities across 20-plus sports. Choose from all the standard bets, plus alternate lines, props, futures, and more.

FanDuel Sportsbook is also famous for its popular same-game parlays and other promos like profit boosts, special “no sweat” bets, free pools and pick’em contests, and more. You’ll find FanDuel constantly has all sorts of offers popping up among its ongoing promos for regular players, a big plus for betting on the site.

Here is how the FanDuel Sportsbook welcome offer works:

• Create an account at FanDuel Sportsbook using the links on this page.
• Make an initial deposit of at least $10.
• Place an initial wager of any type for at least $5.
• Within 72 hours, you’ll receive $200 in guaranteed Bonus Bets that can be used in whatever increments you like.
• Use your Bonus Bets within seven days or they will expire.
• If you win wagers using Bonus Bets, you receive the winnings but not the bet amounts as with regular cash bets.
• Note that you’ll need to download the FanDuel Sportsbook NC app and claim your offer there. (If you register your account through the website, you’ll be directed to use the app.)

FanDuel Sportsbook welcome offer pros and cons

Pros

• You only have to risk $5 of your own money to get $200 in guaranteed Bonus Bets
• The Bonus Bets can be used any way you like (that is, you don’t have to bet it all at once, unless you want to)

Cons

• You only have seven days to use your $200 in Bonus Bets
• Bonus Bets cannot be withdrawn, but must be wagered
• You only receive winnings from winning Bonus Bets and not the bet amounts

What is the welcome offer at FanDuel Sportsbook NC?

FanDuel Sportsbook is inviting new North Carolina sign-ups to make an initial bet of at least $5 on the site, and in return they receive $200 in Bonus Bets guaranteed.

What can I win with the FanDuel Sportsbook welcome offer?

You can turn a nice profit with the FanDuel Sportsbook welcome offer if you manage to make some winning wagers with your Bonus Bets. Remember, you only have to risk $5 of your own money to receive the Bonus Bets, and whatever winnings you earn with those Bonus Bets (not including the bet amounts) are yours to keep.

What makes the FanDuel Sportsbook welcome offer special?

The FanDuel Sportsbook welcome offer is especially attractive since it requires new users to risk very little of their own money to potentially receive a handsome benefit.

• States available: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (varies by parish), Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

• FanDuel vs. DraftKings: Which is best?

BetMGM Sportsbook North Carolina promo code

BetMGM Sportsbook calls itself the “King of Sportsbooks” and indeed it is one of the more popular choices in states where it operates. BetMGM is a top choice of online sportsbooks in North Carolina, too, and is attracting a number of sign-ups thanks to its First Bet Bonus up to $1,500.

BetMGM has joined forces with the Charlotte Motor Speedway to operate in North Carolina. BetMGM Sportsbook accepts wagers on more than two dozen sports with all the usual pregame bets plus lots of alternate lines, props and special parlays. BetMGM is especially good for futures betting as well. 

The platform at BetMGM is very intuitive, making it simple to find games and desired wagers, fill out the bet slip and submit your bets. Bettors at BetMGM especially enjoy the “Edit My Bet” and early “Cash Out” features. You’ll also find frequent promotions, including odds boost tokens, profit and parlay boosts, free contests and drawings, refer-a-friend bonuses and other offers. Users also can earn benefits from the BetMGM Rewards program.

Here’s how the BetMGM Sportsbook welcome offer works:

• Enter the bonus code SPORTSPICK when registering your new BetMGM Sportsbook account.
• Deposit at least $10 into your account.
• Make your first bet.
• If your bet loses, BetMGM will refund your account with bonus bets in the amount of the original wager, up to $1,500.
• The Bonus Bets will appear in your account within approximately 24 hours of your initial bet being settled.
• You must use your Bonus Bets within seven days or they will expire.
• If you win with a Bonus Bet, you only receive the winnings and not the bet amount.

BetMGM Sportsbook usual welcome offer pros and cons

Pros

• Your first bet on the site is insured with bonus bets up to $1,500.
• The Bonus Bets will appear in your account and be available to use within 24 hours.

Cons

• You only have seven days to use your Bonus Bets or you lose them.
• Winning wagers using Bonus Bets only award the winnings and not the bet amounts.
• You have to remember to click “Apply Bonus Bet?” on your bet slip when using the Bonus Bets later.

What is the welcome offer at BetMGM Sportsbook NC?

In North Carolina, BetMGM Sportsbook is giving new sign-ups a First Bet Bonus up to $1,500.

What can I win with the BetMGM Sportsbook welcome offer?

With those Bonus Bets you can earn whatever winnings you get from placing winning wagers. Thus the larger the bet amount and bigger the payout, the more you can pocket.

What makes the BetMGM Sportsbook welcome offer better than other sites’ offers?

BetMGM Sportsbook's First Bet Bonus is the biggest available in North Carolina at $1,500. Also, BetMGM will credit your account with the Bonus Bets within 24 hours, meaning you’ll be able to use them relatively quickly.

• States available: Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia (Nationals Park only), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (varies by parish), Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi (only at partnering casinos), Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

• FanDuel vs. BetMGM: Which is best? | Caesars vs. BetMGM?

DraftKings North Carolina Sportsbook promo code

North Carolinians are already well familiar with DraftKings thanks to its daily fantasy sports site, and DraftKings Sportsbook is popular in the state as well. Having partnered with NASCAR to operate in the state, DraftKings Sportsbook NC is already off to the races with a handsome three-part welcome offer worth up to $1,250.

G - edits

Upon making an initial $5 minimum deposit, new users get a $50 Bonus Bet. New sign-ups can also receive a deposit match bonus worth up to $1,000, and an additional $200 in Bonus Bets after making a $5 bet.  

DraftKings Sportsbook is great for other reasons, too, including its wide range of markets and available bets on every big (and little) contest. The site is great for futures and props, too, and DraftKings stands out from the crowd for its live betting options. DraftKings is also generous with ongoing promos that include lots of profit boosts, “stepped up” parlays, free pools, and more. Additionally, users get to participate in the Dynasty Rewards program for added benefits.

Here is how the different parts of the DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer works:

• Create a DraftKings Sportsbook account using the links on this page.
• Deposit at least $5 and receive a $50 Bonus Bet and an additional $200 in bonus bets after making a $5 bet.
• With that initial deposit, you are also eligible to receive a 20% deposit match bonus worth up to $1,000. The deposit match bonus is awarded in Bonus Bets and also has a 25x playthrough requirement attached to it.
• With each of these offers, when you use the Bonus Bets you’ll only get back winnings and not the bet amounts for successful wagers. (We encourage you to become familiar the terms and conditions for each of these offers, as they differ.)
• Bonus Bets must be used in seven days.

DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer pros and cons

Pros

• Three welcome offers instead of just one, worth up to $1,250 altogether
• A $5 deposit nets you a $50 Bonus Bet and an additional $200 in bonus bets after making a $5 bet
• Not all sites include a deposit match bonus in their welcome offers

Cons

• You only have seven days to use your Bonus Bets
• The 25x playthrough requirement with the deposit match offer is difficult for most to satisfy (the offer is truly more for high-stakes bettors)
• With Bonus Bets, you only receive winnings and not the bet amounts

What can I win with the DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer?

You can keep the winnings from any successful wagers placed with your Bonus Bets.

Why is DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer better than others?

For starters, DraftKings Sportsbook has three offers, not just one. Overall, the bonuses are worth up to $1,250!  

• States available: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (varies by parish), Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington (only at partnering casinos), West Virginia, Wyoming

Related Pages:

• DraftKings vs. BetMGM: Which is best?

Other online sportsbooks in North Carolina

There are three other online sportsbooks currently up and running in North Carolina as well:

• ESPN Bet Sportsbook NC
• Fanatics Sportsbook NC
• Underdog Sports Sportsbook NC

When did online sports betting launch in North Carolina?

March Madness 2024 had been the goal for the first North Carolina online sportsbook apps to start taking wagers. NC realized that goal when it went live with online sports betting on March 11, 2024.

That launch came just one day before the 2024 ACC Tournament and a full week ahead of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and March Madness betting.

Also check: UNC Basketball odds | Duke Basketball odds

How many online sportsbooks will launch in NC?

The lottery commission can award up to 11 mobile sports betting licenses, and for each, the operator must partner with either a NC pro sports franchise, one of two NC golf courses that host a PGA Tour event, or a NC auto racetrack. Also, the two federally-recognized Native American tribes can partner with operators as well to offer online sports betting, meaning that theoretically there could be as many as 13 online sportsbooks in the state.

Eight different operators applied in time to go live on March 11. Seven of those agreed to partnerships with the entities described above, and Caesars Sportsbook also secured its spot via its partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Here are those eight announced NC online sports betting partnerships thus far:

• Bet365 (Charlotte Hornets, NBA)
• BetMGM (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
• Caesars Sportsbook (Cherokee Nation)
• DraftKings (NASCAR)
• ESPN Bet (Quail Hollow)
• Fanatics (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL)
• FanDuel (PGA Tour & Carolina Panthers, NFL)
• Underdog Sports (Sedgefield Country Club)

Other still eligible partners include Charlotte FC (MLS), NC Courage (NWSL) and North Wilkesboro Speedway. The Catawba Two Kings Casino can offer online sports betting to go along with its retail sportsbook, but hasn’t announced its plans as yet.

North Carolina sportsbook promos pros and cons

Sportsbook promotions and bonuses are typically great for online sports bettors, especially when they come as welcome offers. Some new-user offers are better than others, though, and it is worth checking out the terms and conditions first when weighing the pros and cons of these promos.

Pros of sportsbook promos

• Great way to get started wagering at lesser risk — Many sites offer new users the chance to lose an initial bet and get refunded their loss in the form of bonus bets. Others offer bonus bets right away, sometimes totaling large amounts. Either way, these bonus bets are a great way to start wagering without having to risk your bankroll.
• Boosted odds, “stepped up” parlays mean bigger wins — Sportsbooks often offer special bets with more favorable odds that essentially mean winning more than you would usually win, should your wager be a winner. Keep an eye out for these offers, especially if they are for bets you were already planning to place.
• Playthrough requirements are less difficult at sportsbooks than online casinos — Online casinos often offer bonuses that have hard-to-satisfy playthrough requirements (a.k.a. wagering requirements) attached to them. Online sportsbooks sometimes also offer bonuses with these requirements, but often they don’t, meaning you can use the bonus bets right away.

Cons of sportsbook promos

• You only receive winnings and not wager amounts with bonus bets — When a site gives you a bonus bet and you place a winning wager, you don’t get back the bet amount, only the winnings (unlike with regular wagers). Keep that in mind when evaluating how good a bonus bet offer really is. 
• Bonuses that require you to lose — You’re noticing above how sites offer “2nd chance” bonuses when you lose your first bet on the site. That means if you win your first bet, you receive no bonus at all.
• Odds boosts can be deceptive — Compare lines from site to site and make sure that when an online sportsbook is offering “odds boosts” or a purportedly higher payout it is actually a meaningful improvement. Sometimes you’ll find the boosted line isn’t that different from a regular line elsewhere. 

Types of North Carolina sportsbook promo offers

To help you sort through the terminology used with online sportsbook bonuses, here are some common examples you can expect North Carolina sports betting sites to offer.

Welcome bonuses

Every site has some sort of welcome bonus for new sign-ups. These are often either free “bonus bets” you receive for depositing or making a first wager or “second chance” bonuses that award you bonus bets if you lose your initial bet on the site. You may also see welcome bonuses that include deposit match bonuses. All of these different types are described more fully below. 

Bonus bets

A “bonus bet” is essentially site credit on an online sportsbook. You can’t withdraw it directly, but you can use the bonus bet to wager on games. If you win, you only receive the winnings and not the wager amount. Thus, if you place a $50 bonus bet at +110 and win the bet, you win $55. (If you placed that same bet with cash, you’d get back $105.)

First bet offers

Welcome offers often include so-called “first bet” offers that give you something when you make an initial wager on the site, usually bonus bets. Your first bet has to be for a minimum amount or higher (e.g., $5) and sometimes it has to be a “qualifying wager” that has certain odds (i.e., you can’t just bet a big favorite). 

Deposit match bonuses

Some sites will give you a deposit match bonus when you make your first deposit on the site or at other times in which case they are sometimes called “reload bonuses.” Usually, the match is a percentage of the deposit amount. For example, if you deposit $100 and get a 20% deposit match bonus, the bonus will be worth $20. (Beware of playthrough requirements, though — discussed further below.)

Refer-a-friend bonuses

Most sites offer referral bonuses to get you to encourage someone else to create an account. Usually, they give you a bonus bet, and in some cases, both you and your friend will get a bonus bet. Sometimes your friend has to make a wager before you receive the bonus, and sometimes you get the bonus as soon as your friend creates an account. 

Odds boosts

Odds boosts are fairly common at online sportsbooks, offering “boosted” odds on particular wagers that effectively increase your payout should you win. Say a moneyline bet on a team to win is normally +115, but with an odds boost it has been adjusted to +165. Thus, for a $100 winning bet, you’d win $165 rather than $115.

Bet insurance bonuses

Sometimes you’ll see so-called bet insurance offers that allow you to place a bet and if you lose you get some or all of the bet amount back as a refund, usually as a bonus bet. These are essentially “second chance” bets that “insure” the bettor against losing. 

“Bet & Get” bonuses

A bet-and-get bonus is another common promo at online sportsbooks. Essentially, you are invited to make a certain type of wager (e.g., on a particular sport or contest) during a certain time period and for a minimum amount. If you do, you receive a bonus bet in return. 

App-only promotions and bonuses

All online sportsbooks have both web-browser versions of the site accessible via desktops and a sports betting app you can download to your smartphone or tablet. Sometimes sites will offer “app-only” bonuses only available to app users, so be sure to check the current promos whenever you open the app. 

Special event offers

Whenever a new season begins such as the start of NFL betting or NBA game odds going up, or when seasons end with Super Bowl betting lines or NBA Finals odds or World Series odds, online sportsbooks tend to run promos connected to those events.

Expect North Carolina sportsbooks to do the same with NHL betting promos or NBA betting promos related to the Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Hornets or when college basketball heats up for UNC, Duke and the other NC schools. 

Loyalty rewards programs 

Finally, keep an eye out for any loyalty rewards programs when you are evaluating online sportsbooks and deciding where to play. Not every sports betting site has such a program, but those that do tend to give you ways to build up points and exchange them for site credit or bonus bets later. 

Typical T&Cs for sportsbook welcome offers

The best sports betting sites invariably tend to offer bonuses to new sign-ups. Then once you get an account and start wagering, you'll find there are usually plenty of ongoing promotions as well such as odds boosts, bet-and-get bonuses, special event offers and others such as described above.

New users in particular should be aware that all bonuses and promotions have certain terms and conditions attached to them. In most cases, the offers are going to be worthwhile, but sometimes the specific terms might make the offer less attractive than it appears on the surface.  

Be sure to look for these terms and conditions when assessing sports betting sites' welcome offers.

Playthrough requirements

If you receive a bonus with a playthrough requirement, that means you have to “play” or wager a certain amount to receive the bonus. Sometimes these requirements can be difficult to satisfy. Let’s say you receive a $100 bonus but it comes with a 25x playthrough requirement. That means you have to wager 25 times the bonus amount (that is, $2,500) to “release” the bonus, which might be a lot more than you care to bet. 

Bet limits

Bonuses might limit which types of bets you can make with them. You might only be able to wager on certain sports or games, or you might only be able to use your bonus bets on wagers that have certain odds (e.g., -200 or longer). 

Time limits

Often when you receive bonus bets, you have to use them (or lose them) within a certain period. Pay attention to this, as you don’t want to receive a bonus bet only to waste it by not using it within seven days, for instance.

Bonus payout times

Whenever you are due to receive a bonus, the site will usually indicate how long you should expect to have to wait before it shows up in your account. Sometimes you’ll get the bonus immediately, but other times you might find you’ll get the bonus within 72 hours or some other designated period. 

See more: Top 7 fastest payout online sportsbooks

Maximum payouts (withdrawal limits)

Check as well what the limits are for withdrawing funds from the online sportsbook. These can vary according to the payout method chosen. For most users, these limits won’t prove to matter much, but if you ever have to withdraw a large amount of money, you should check over the terms and conditions first. 

Sport-specific betting bonuses - which teams can I bet on in NC?

North Carolina online sportsbooks offer a number of bonuses and promotions connected to the state’s professional and college teams.

Don’t be surprised to see NFL betting bonuses related to the Carolina Panthers, NBA betting promos for the Charlotte Hornets, or other promos having to do with ACC basketball and football. 

There are a few professional teams in NC and lots of college programs as well. These include the following: 

• NFL — Carolina Panthers
• NBA — Charlotte Hornets
• NHL — Carolina Hurricanes (Check tonight's Hurricanes odds and their current Stanley Cup futures odds)
• MLS — Charlotte FC
• NWSL — North Carolina Courage
• NCAA — Appalachian State, Davidson, Duke, East Carolina, NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, Wake Forest

Don’t forget about NASCAR, which features a number of NC-based teams and a huge fan following in the state.

See more:

• Best college football betting sites
• Best college basketball betting sites
• Tonight's college basketball odds

How do I claim North Carolina sportsbook promos?

Claiming bonuses as part of online sportsbooks’ promotions is usually not too difficult although sometimes there are particular steps you have to follow to get the bonus.

For some welcome offers, you’ll need to enter a bonus code when creating your account or making a first deposit. If you don’t need to enter a bonus code, be sure to use our links when going to sign up at the site to ensure you get the welcome offers described on this page. 

Sometimes bonuses will require you simply to opt in to receive the bonus. That usually just means clicking a button on the site to take advantage of the offer, although when you do that you are also agreeing to the offer’s terms and conditions, which you should always review beforehand.

Speaking of those terms and conditions, if the bonus comes with playthrough requirements or any other limits or restrictions such as are described above, be sure to consider those carefully when deciding whether the bonus is a good one. 

North Carolina sportsbook promo codes FAQ

Do I need a bonus code to receive a welcome offer at North Carolina online sportsbooks?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. When registering for your new NC online sportsbook account, pay attention to any prompts to enter a bonus code to ensure you receive the site’s welcome offer. Sometimes, no code will be needed, but you should still use our links to ensure you get the welcome offer.

Can I have more than one North Carolina online sportsbook account?

Yes, you can register at multiple NC online sports betting sites. You can also place bets on multiple sites at the same time if you like. If you do have multiple accounts, you can take advantage of different promotions and bonuses at each of them. You can also “line shop” or compare prices on particular wagers across the sites before choosing the one with the most favorable odds. 

How many times can you use a promo code at an NC online sportsbook?

Usually, you can only use a specific promo or bonus code one time for a given promotion at a North Carolina online sports betting site. 

Which is the best online sports betting promotion to get?

Promotions that award you bonus bets are always nice, but it is particularly good when the bonus bets are easily obtained by making a deposit or bet on the site. A promo that invites you to make at least a $5 bet and get $200 in bonus bets in return is an especially good one since the amount of bonus bets is much larger than what you have to risk with your wager. 

How do I deposit money onto a North Carolina sports betting site?

Typically online sportsbooks offer several ways to deposit funds into your account. Many allow you to deposit using debit and credit cards, online banking, ACH/VIP Preferred, PayPal, Venmo, wire transfers, gift cards and via other methods. Often, deposits show up instantly, allowing you to start betting right away.

Do I have to be a North Carolina resident to bet at NC online sportsbooks?

No, but you do have to be physically located in NC to place any wagers. The sites use geolocation technology to ensure bettors are actually in the state.

What is the minimum age to use a North Carolina sports betting site?

In North Carolina, you have to be at least 21 years old to bet on sports online.

Related pages:

• Ohio sports betting promos
• Pennsylvania sports betting promos
• Illinois sports betting promos
• Kentucky sports betting promos
• Arizona sports betting promos
• Colorado sports betting promos
• Maryland sports betting promos
• New Jersey sports betting promos
• Massachusetts sports betting promos
• Michigan sports betting promos
• New York sports betting promos
• Vermont sports betting promos