North Carolina Sports Betting: March 11 Launch, Apps, and More

Mar 11, 2024

Danielle Parhizkaran / USA Today Sports

Governor Roy Cooper officially legalized sports betting in North Carolina on June 14, 2023. And, now, North Carolina sports betting is finally here. Here's everything you need to know in terms of updates, mobile sports betting apps, launch dates, and more. The state launched mobile betting on March 11, 2024.

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Is Sports Betting Legal in North Carolina?

Yes. A sports betting bill, HB 347, was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 14, 2023. This bill legalized online sports betting which goes into effect on January 8, 2024. the state then has to launch legal sports betting within 12 months.

The bill legalized retail sports betting and online sports wagering on college and professional teams. North Carolina online sports betting could potentially launch on January 24, 2024, with sports betting sites and apps.

North Carolina approved retail sports betting at tribal casinos in 2019 and the state also allows Daily Fantasy Sports contests. The sports betting law passed by the North Carolina House allows for up to 12 online sportsbooks and eight retail sportsbooks. For now, it looks like horse race betting, esports, and more will be available in the state.

Latest North Carolina Sports Betting News and Updates

If you are looking to bet on sports when legal online sports betting takes off, you'll need to know what's been happening. Here's the latest from online sports betting in North Carolina as the state moves toward January 2024 when sports betting is legal in the state.

March 11, 2024: Online sports betting launches in North Carolina
March 1, 2024: Pre-registration opens for NC sports betting.
January 24, 2024: North Carolina Lottery Commission approves March 11, 2024, as launch date.
January 5, 2024: DraftKings and BetMGM announce partnerships in NC with NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
December 29, 2023: 7 sportsbooks submitted applications by Dec. 27 including bet365, BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, and Underdog Sports.
December 21, 2023: Gov. Roy Cooper announces goal for sports betting launch by March Madness.
December 18, 2023: The Carolina Hurricanes strikes partnership with Fanatics.
December 5, 2023: ESPN Bet strikes partnership with Quail Hollow Golf Club.
November 17, 2023: bet365 Sportsbook is the first sportsbook to announce a partnership in the state as it teams up with the Charlotte Hornets.
October 17-27, 2023: The Committee approves initial proposed rules and holds a public hearing to discuss rules and regulations.
September 27, 2023: North Carolina State Lottery assembles its sports betting committee to oversee rules and regulations.
September 5, 2023: The sports betting commission adds new associate attorneys who will help set up new rules to regulate sports betting in the state.
June 14, 2023: Gov. Cooper signed the sports betting bill, HB 347, into law. It means betting is legal in North Carolina as the state plans to launch in January 2024.
June 1, 2023: The North Carolina Senate votes on HB 347 and it passes 37-11. The bill was proposed by North Carolina lawmakers to bring legal sportsbooks to the state and allow wagering on sports.
May 30, 2023: The Senate Finance Committee is able to advance the sports betting bill HB 347 which allows it to reach a Senate vote.
March 30, 2023: The House approves the HB 347 bill with a vote of 64-45 vote and sends the bill to the Senate.
March 13, 2023: Rep. Jason Saine introduces HB 347 in hopes of bringing online sports betting to the state of North Carolina along with retail sports betting locations at sports venues in the state.

North Carolina Sportsbooks and Apps

Many of the top sportsbook options applied for online betting licenses in the state. The North Carolina Lottery Commission has set up a gambling compliance and sports betting division to take care of the licenses, launch, and more. We have seen all sorts of North Carolina sports betting sites thanks to the online sports betting bill.

Here are some of the top sportsbooks North Carolina bettors will see for online sports betting in the state. Bettors can also expect promo codes and bonuses now that the state is live.

FanDuel North Carolina

FanDuel is one of the top sportsbooks in the US as it offers great promotions, live betting, and more for sports bettors. The sportsbook has made strong pushes in other states and remains near the top of the most popular sportsbooks in the US. Here are some of the platform's features.

Same-Game Parlays
- FanDuel brought the same-game parlay fame as bettors can combine multiple legs into one single bet. All of the legs have to win for you to win the bet.
Live Betting
- FanDuel has great live betting where you can track odds, lines, and more throughout the game or event as they change based on the action.
Live Streaming
- FanDuel has the option to stream live sporting events. It recently partnered with Major League Baseball to stream the free game of the day through its app.
Promotions
- FanDuel is always running promotions like No Sweat First Bets, bonus bets, and more for new users.

bet365 North Carolina

bet365 operates in several countries but is starting to grow in the United States. The sportsbook offers over 35 sports and a large amount of betting markets for bettors. Here are some of the features of bet365 Sportsbook that will be available after the online sports betting launch if bet365 is legal in the state.

Live Streaming
- You can live-stream select sporting events in the app.
Live Betting
- Check out a long list of odds and betting markets for live wagering with bet365.
Early Cash Out
- If you want to guarantee a profit or walk away with something from a loss, you can use the cashout feature.
bet365 Mastercard (NJ only)
- The bet365 Mastercard allows bettors in the state of New Jersey to have instant access to their funds and direct withdrawal. It's unclear if bet365 plans to expand this offering into other states.

DraftKings North Carolina

DraftKings is one of the most popular sports betting brands in the US with plenty of leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. The sportsbooks will likely be available in North Carolina once online sports betting is live. Here are some of DraftKings features.

Live Betting
- DraftKings has a deep list of betting markets for live games and events for users to wager on.
Same Game Parlays
- You can combine multiple bets into one wager on the same game. Just use the SGP button when clicking on a game to place your parlay.
Early Cashout
- You can cash out early to make sure you score a profit or get something from the online sportsbook if your bet will lose.
Rewards Program
- Bettors earn crowns that can be redeemed for bonus bets, merch, and more.

BetMGM North Carolina

BetMGM is a strong platform that is extremely popular in the United States. It has plenty of great retail locations to go along with strong online betting. It should be one of the options for you to bet on sports in North Carolina when the state goes live. Here are some of BetMGM's features.

Live Betting
- Bettors can wager on live events and games with plenty of leagues and bet types.
Live Streaming
- You can watch various events like soccer games, highlights, and more on BetMGM Sportsbook.
Early Cash Out
- If you want to secure a profit or avoid a huge loss, you can cashout early.
Same-Game Parlay
- Add multiple legs from the same game into one bet to make your same-game parlays with BetMGM.

Caesars North Carolina

Caesars has a strong presence in sports betting and casinos thanks to several retail locations across the United States. The app has plenty of bonuses, great features, and more for sports bettors. Caesars applied for a supplier's license which means the operator will likely only be allowing betting at its retail locations in the state. No word on if Caesars will apply for an online license. Here are some of the features of Caesars Sportsbook.

Rewards
- Caesars has one of the best VIP Rewards systems in the sports betting market. Move up tiers as you place bets to earn rewards.
Same-Game Parlays
- Make same-game parlays by combining multiple legs from the same game into one bet.
Live Streaming
- Caesars was one of the first sportsbooks to allow bettors to watch and bet. You can stream select NFL games in the app.
Microbetting
- There are microbetting markets on Caesars with their partnership with Simplebet. This gives more engagement and allows you to bet on every play during a game.

More Sportsbook Options in NC

North Carolina has also seen some new sportsbooks join its ranks including options like ESPN Bet and Fanatics Sportsbook. ESPN Bet works with PENN National Gaming after PENN ended its relationship with Barstool Sports. Fanatics Sportsbook bought PointsBet to bring sports betting into several states.

Popular Sports Teams to Bet on in North Carolina

The state of North Carolina has plenty of professional sports and college sports that will potentially be able to be wagered on. Here are some of the most popular options that will draw the attention of sports bettors in the state. There is no restriction on betting on college sports as of now.

Professional Teams
- Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
- Carolina Panthers (NFL)
- Charlotte FC (MLS)
- Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
College Teams
- Appalachian State Mountaineers
- Campbell Fighting Camels
- Charlotte 49ers
- Davidson Wildcats
- Duke Bluedevils
- East Carolina Pirates
- Elon Phoenix
- North Carolina State Wolfpack
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- North Carolina A&T Aggies
- UNC Asheville Bulldogs
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Along with professional sports, college sports betting on teams like the University of North Carolina and Duke will draw plenty of attention. The top sportsbooks that earn a sports betting license will have plenty of odds, lines, betting markets, and more for these popular teams in the state.

North Carolina Sports Betting FAQs

Is sports betting in North Carolina legal?

Yes, The North Carolina Senate and House passed a bill to allow for online North Carolina betting. The state launched mobile online sports betting on March 11, 2024.

When will online sportsbooks launch in North Carolina?

North Carolina online sports betting launched on March 11, 2024. The North Carolina Lottery Commission approved the launch date in late January 2024.

Can I bet on my phone in North Carolina?

Online sports betting apps are available in the state of North Carolina. Now that legal sports betting is live, bettors in the state will be able to use their favorite North Carolina Sportsbook on their mobile devices.

Are there retail sportsbooks in North Carolina?

Yes, but they are only available at tribal casinos. There are three retail sportsbooks available right now. More will come to North Carolina when the state launches in 2024.

Can non-residents participate in NC sports betting?

Yes. Now that it's live, you can participate in mobile betting by being within the borders of the state. North Carolinians and bettors from outside the state will have to enable tracking on their devices so the sportsbook can confirm they are in a legal state.

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