Sports betting is legal in North Carolina, including online sports betting. Retail sports betting has been available at the state’s tribal casinos for three years. Meanwhile, on March 11, 2024 online sports betting finally launched in NC.
North Carolina legalized online sports betting in 2023, joining the dozens of states where bettors can place wagers at online sportsbooks from anywhere in legal state borders.
Read on to learn more about North Carolina’s new sports betting law and everything else you need to know about legal North Carolina sports betting.
North Carolina sports betting bill explained
Before legalization occurred, NC lawmakers had been considering legal sports betting for a few years. In 2022, a bill nearly passed, failing by only a single vote. Then, in 2023, legislation finally did pass. Gov. Roy Cooper signed HB 347 into law on June 14, 2023.
The new law is titled the Sports Wagering/Horse Race Wagering Act and makes the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) the overseeing regulatory body for expanded sports betting. The law authorizes both online sports betting and retail sports betting at eight more locations in addition to the sportsbooks already open at the three tribal casinos.
The original tax rate on revenue was 14%, but it was ultimately renegotiated up to 18%. Revenue from sports betting will be used to fund the North Carolina Problem Gambling Program, youth sports leagues and facilities, travel expenses for the state’s youth sports teams, and 13 university athletics departments in the NC system. The remaining funds will go to the NC General Fund and the NC Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund.
More negotiations during the fall budget process also changed the number of commercial online sportsbook licenses available from 12 to 11, making it necessary for operators to partner with either a North Carolina professional sports team, a league or tour, or a designated racetrack or golf club. In addition to those 11 potential online sports betting sites, both the federally recognized Native American tribes in NC can operate an online sportsbook, bringing the overall maximum to 13 online sportsbooks.
North Carolina mobile sports betting timeline
- March 29, 2023: After HB 347 was introduced by Rep. Jason Saine and various amendments were debated, the House voted in favor 64-45.
- May 31, 2023: HB 347 passed the NC Senate by a 38-11 margin.
- June 14, 2023: Gov. Roy Cooper signed the new Sports Wagering/Horse Race Wagering Bill into law.
- Sept. 28, 2023: The fall budget process results in changes to the law, setting the maximum number of sites to 11 (plus two tribal-owned sites) and linking commercial online sports betting licenses to partnerships with teams, leagues, and venues.
- Dec. 29, 2023: Regulators announce the first seven applicants for online sports betting licenses. The NCEL Commission also announces Caesars Entertainment’s application for a service provider license, indicating its intention to partner with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to provide online sports betting in NC.
- Jan. 24, 2024: As applicants announce partnerships with NC teams, leagues, and venues, the NCEL Commission announces a March 11 launch date for NC online sports betting, one day before the start of the ACC Tournament.
- March 1, 2024: Online sportsbooks able to start accepting new account registrations.
- March 11, 2024: Online sports betting launched in North Carolina.
Which NC sports betting apps went live on March 11?
As noted, the NCEL can issue as many as 11 online sports betting licenses to commercial operators, each of which needs to partner with a North Carolina professional sports franchise, a professional sports league operating in the state, or a designated golf club or motorsports racetrack.
In addition, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Catawba Nation, North Carolina’s two Native American tribes, both have tribal-state gambling compacts that allow them to find partners for online sports betting. At present, the Cherokee have partnered with Caesars, while the Catawba have yet to announce their intentions.
On March 11, 2024, eight online sportsbooks had secured partnerships and received approval from regulators to launch in NC. Here’s a look at the market-access partnerships in North Carolina.
| Entity | Online Sportsbook Partner |
|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | FanDuel |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Fanatics |
| Charlotte Hornets | Bet365 |
| Charlotte FC | TBA |
| Charlotte Motor Speedway | BetMGM |
| NASCAR | DraftKings |
| NC Courage | TBA |
| North Wilkesboro Speedway | TBA |
| PGA Tour | FanDuel |
| Quail Hollow Country Club | ESPN Bet |
| Sedgefield Country Club | Underdog Sports |
| Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians | Caesars |
| Catawba Nation | TBA |
Retail sports betting in North Carolina
North Carolina legalized in-person sports betting at tribal casinos back in 2019. The first retail sportsbooks in NC opened at the two Cherokee casinos in 2021. After the Catawba Two Kings Casino opened its doors in 2021, a sportsbook arrived in 2022.
Here’s a little more about those three NC retail sports betting locations.
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort — 777 Casino Dr., Cherokee, NC 28719; Caesars Sportsbook features multiple betting windows and 10 self-service betting kiosks. You’ll also find private Fan Caves that can be rented for special events and a 90-foot video wall.
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River — 777 Casino Pkwy., Murphy, NC 28906; Caesars Sportsbook features five windows and eight self-service betting kiosks, plus a 32-foot video wall.
- Catawba Two Kings Casino — 538 Kings Mountain Blvd., Kings Mountain, NC 28086; Enjoy 30 self-service betting kiosks, plus additional betting windows and a 32-foot video wall.
North Carolina’s new sports betting law allows for more retail sportsbooks to open in the state, but nothing has been announced yet. The new sportsbooks have been authorized at eight sports betting venues located around the state:
- Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
- Charlotte Motor Speedway (Charlotte)
- North Wilkesboro Speedway (Greensboro)
- PNC Arena (Raleigh)
- Quail Hollow Country Club (Charlotte)
- Sedgefield Country Club (Greensboro)
- Spectrum Center (Charlotte)
- WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary)
What sports can I bet on in North Carolina?
The new online sports betting law allows North Carolina bettors to wager on a wide range of professional and collegiate sports. Note that betting on in-state schools and universities is allowed in North Carolina. The guidelines actually list 45 different sports the sites can feature, although most sites will probably have about 20-25 at any given time. There are also 11 different bet types allowed (e.g., moneyline, spread, totals, parlays, teasers, props, live betting, and more).
The sports you can bet on include all the most popular ones, like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, golf, tennis, motorsports, MMA, and boxing. The sites can also accept bets on more niche sports like Aussie rules football, cricket, lacrosse, rugby, softball, swimming, table tennis, and volleyball.
That said, the betting options can get even more obscure. Some NC online sportsbooks will feature markets for badminton, darts, jai-alai, rodeo, rowing, sailing, and water polo. You can even bet on Pesäpallo (Finnish baseball with different rules) and competitive eating (e.g., Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest).
North Carolina sports betting FAQ
What’s the age minimum for betting in North Carolina?
You must be at least 21 years old to wager on sports in North Carolina. That includes betting on sports using NC online sportsbooks or in person at retail sportsbooks.
Can you bet on college sports in North Carolina?
Yes. While some states with legal sports betting don’t allow wagering on in-state schools, North Carolina does. That means you can bet on ACC basketball games involving North Carolina, Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest.
What sports betting apps have launched in North Carolina?
Eight online sportsbooks took part in NC online sports betting’s “opening day” on March 11, 2024. Those eight sites are Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Underdog Sports. Beyond those, NC law allows for up to five more online sportsbooks for a maximum of 13.
Does North Carolina have retail sportsbooks?
Yes, three retail sportsbooks are open in North Carolina, one at each tribal casino (as described above). The new expanded sports betting law allows for eight more retail sportsbooks to open at selected professional sports venues, but no timeline has been announced for those.