The wave of sports betting in the United States grows stronger this March, with North Carolina becoming the 35th state in the nation to allow some form of legalized sports betting.
The Old North State will officially allow residents to sign up and preregister for online sportsbooks on March 1, but North Carolina bettors won't be able to actually make online wagers until March 11 at 12 p.m. ET.
Residents have already been able to bet at in-person retailers since 2019. The Tar Heel State currently has three in-person retailers: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River and Catawba Two Kings Casino
So, you can still bet in person, but the online fun won't tip off until closer to March Madness. Let's shine a brighter light on everything you need to know about sports betting in North Carolina in 2024.
North Carolina legal sports betting
- June 14, 2023: Bill legalizing online sports betting signed into law
- March 1, 2024: Preregistration period for online sports betting begins
- March 11, 2024: Online betting through eight online retailers begins
MORE: Full timeline and details of North Carolina's foray into 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.
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.
How to bet in North Carolina
How to bet before March 11
As previously mentioned, 21-year-old residents can already make in-person bets in North Carolina at either of Caesar's "Harrah's Cherokee" locations in western NC or the temporary Catawba Two Kings Casino west of Charlotte.
How to bet on March 11 or later
As of March 11, though, residents who are 21 or older will be able to bet through one of North Carolina's eight online retailers. Residents will simply need to sign up online and/or download the app anytime after March 1, make a deposit, and then wait until March 11 to lock in some bets.
MORE: Full details of North Carolina's sports betting launch
How to sign up for an online sportsbook
Here's a more detailed "how-to" to get you started:
- Online or on your App Store or Google Play, visit one of the eight online sportsbooks now legal to join in North Carolina.
- Download the app, then locate the “Sign Up” or “Register” button and click it.
- Create a username and password.
- Enter your personal information, which usually includes full name, email address, physical address, phone number, date of birth, and last four digits of your Social Security number.
- If you have a promo code you would like to use (deposit match, first-deposit bonus, welcome gift, etc), enter it when prompted.
- Agree to the site’s terms and conditions and check any other boxes needed to confirm all your details have been entered accurately.
- Click “Create Account” or “Submit.”
- Visit the cashier page and proceed to deposit funds.
Pre-live promo codes for North Carolina
As new offers and promo codes become available, we'll update with the latest and best offers from every book. Promo codes for BetMGM, Fanduel, DraftKings, Bet365 and Caesars can be found here.
DraftKings NC
Claim up to $1,350 in bonuses for launch if you sign up today
FanDuel NC
Bet365 NC
Claim up to $1,100 in bonuses if you sign up today (Promo code: TSNNC)
MORE: Best promos and bonuses for new North Carolina bettors
Best online sports betting apps in North Carolina
BetMGM NC
One of the largest sportsbooks in North America, BetMGM is an authorized gaming retailer of the NBA and has also partnered with Charlotte Motor Speedway ahead of the North Carolina sports betting launch.
FanDuel Sportsbook NC
Like BetMGM, FanDuel has become one of the biggest and most popular sportsbooks in North America. FanDuel has inked a big deal with the PGA Tour in North Carolina.
DraftKings Sportsbook NC
DraftKings is similar to FanDuel in the sense that it has emerged from a DFS tycoon to one of the biggest all-encompassing sportsbooks in North America. DraftKings has a deal in place with NASCAR, which is massively famous in North Carolina.
Bet365 NC
Bet365 signed a deal with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and should be one of the power players on the North Carolina betting scene.
Caesars NC (via Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
The tribal casinos that currently operate two of the three in-person sportsbooks in North Carolina (Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River) will also operate an online sportsbook and app. Like the two existing casinos, the online sportsbook will be run by Caesars.
Catawba Two Kings Casino
The third of the three in-person sportsbook retailers in North Carolina, Catawba will also operate an online and app betting component.
Fanatics
Fanatics has applied to join the North Carolina betting market through a deal with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
ESPN Bet
ESPN Bet has access to North Carolina sports betting through an agreement with Quail Hollow Club and the PGA’s Wells Fargo Championship.
Underdog Sports
Underdog has a deal with McConnell Golf, the parent company of Sedgefield Country Club in North Carolina.
Read more about the sportsbook apps launching in North Carolina
Can I bet on college sports in North Carolina?
So far, it appears that North Carolina will not be a very restrictive state in terms of sports betting. According to the HB 347 statute, bettors will be free to wager on college and amateur sports including beloved collegiate teams like the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils.
Bettors will be unable to bet on high school sports, any kind of local or national politics, or awards shows like the Oscars.
Can I bet on pro sports in North Carolina?
When it comes to pro sports, the sky's the limit for sports bettors in North Carolina as of March 11. That includes major sports leagues like the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS, WNBA, NASCAR, and PGA.
In addition to those professional leagues as well as the Olympics and World Cup, bettors will also be able to wager on less popular North American sports like darts, lacrosse, sailing, Aussie rules football, cricket, and softball.
What sports can I bet on in North Carolina
You would be amazed at how many different sports you can bet on these days. Since North Carolina seems to be a less restrictive state, residents will be free to bet on basketball, football, hockey, baseball, racing, golf, soccer, darts, cricket, lacrosse, sailing, international football, cricket, softball, and more.
Full list of states with legal sports betting
Here's a detailed list of the states that currently feature legal sports betting online and/or in-person:
| State | Online? | In-Person? |
| North Carolina | Yes (3/11) | Yes |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes |
| Delaware | No | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | No | Yes |
| Montana | No | Yes |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes |
| New Mexico | No | Yes |
| New York | Yes | Yes |
| North Dakota | No | Yes |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes |
| South Dakota | No | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes | No |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Washington | No | Yes |
| Washington D.C. | Yes | Yes |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Wisconsin | No | Yes |
| Wyoming | Yes | No |
Types of bets to make in North Carolina
Moneylines — a "straight" bet on a favorite or underdog to win, moneylines are set odds attached to the team's win probability that do not involve a spread or margin of victory. The favorite has negative odds, with the number indicating what you need to wager in order to win $100 if your team wins. The underdog usually has positive odds, with the number indicating what you would win on a $100 wager.
Point spreads — Point spreads involve margins of victory, with the favorite needing to win by the set amount in order to cover and the underdog only able to cover if it wins or if it loses by under that amount. Point spread bets usually have odds around -110 to -125.
Totals — Also known as over/under bets, totals are the set amount of points expected to be scored in a game or match. The bettor picks whether the combined total score will be OVER or UNDER that amount, typically with around -110 to -125 odds.
Parlays — Parlays are wagers that combine multiple other bets into one bet with a bigger potential payout. In order to win a parlay, every component or "leg" must win. Same-game parlays are parlays with multiple legs from within the same game or match.
Prop bets — Short for "proposition," props are wagers on outcomes not directly connected to the final score of a game. The most popular prop bets are player props, over/under bets on player stats and yes/no propositions.
Futures — Futures bets are wagers on outcomes that won’t be determined until a later date, usually with much greater potential payouts than single-game bets. Popular futures bets include March Madness champion, Super Bowl winner, Masters champ, and World Series champ.
Live betting — Live betting, also called “in-game betting,” refers to wagers placed on a game while it is in progress. You can make live bets on the moneyline, spread, total, or props, with the odds changing as the game proceeds.
