The inaugural whistle for North Carolina’s online sports betting market sounded officially as the state confirmed its launch date earlier in January. Spearheading the digital betting frontier, online sports betting platforms have begun operations in North Carolina, with brick-and-mortar retail counterparts set to join the scene imminently.
Governor Roy Cooper’s signature on House Bill 347 in June 2023 marked a historic moment, laying down the legal framework for sports betting within the state. The legislative move, however, didn’t stop at mere authorization. It came bundled with a string of prerequisites and a projected timeline aimed at a smooth rollout of services.
According to the mandates, regulations were to be made public before January 8, 2024, while operators were expected to launch wagers before the mid-year mark on June 14, 2024. The state authorities have been fast-tracking these processes, easily surpassing these deadlines last month. Solidifying their preparedness, operators were directed to submit their internal control documents by January 26 before the official opening.
In the lead-up to this highly anticipated commencement, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission granted eight interactive sports wagering licenses to various operators, a list that showcases some industry juggernauts.
Prominent names like FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, Bet365, BetMGM, ESPN Bet, and Underdog form the inaugural roster. A number of these operators have been swift to launch, including FanDuel, which greeted the market with enticing sign-up promotional offers for new customers.
DraftKings, too, sprang into the market, having formally announced its North Carolina debut last week. This expansion means DraftKings now fortifies its presence in no less than 27 states across the United States, with the company also operating in Ontario, Canada. Matt Kalish, the President of DraftKings North America, expressed excitement over the launch, noting the state’s rich sports legacy and enthusiastic fanbase as landmarks for a prime sports betting experience.
Although online sports betting officially goes full-scale only now, North Carolina had a slight taste of the action last week, albeit in a constrained capacity. Caesars Entertainment, in partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, introduced its sportsbook at two Cherokee-operated casinos, with accessibility to betting within the tribal lands.
As the full-scale online market lights up, Caesars is set to stretch its digital sportsbook services across North Carolina, adding to its longstanding presence in retail sportsbooks within the state.
A distinctive requirement within the North Carolina betting landscape mandates operators to forge partnerships with local sports teams, leagues, or venues. Each of the licensees has secured a deal, such as DraftKings with NASCAR, BetMGM with Charlotte Motor Speedway, ESPN Bet with the PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship, Fanatics Betting and Gaming with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, and Bet365 with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. In November 2023, Bet365 solidified its commitment by striking a partnership with the Hornets. On another front, Underdog enhanced its fantasy sports offerings through an alliance with McConnell Golf.
Beyond operator licenses, the state also confirmed approvals for sports wagering supplier licenses, with names like GeoComply, SBTech, and Sportradar making the cut. Last week, Sportradar joined the licensed ranks; this permit spans five years, authorizing it to equip approved operators in North Carolina with essential sports data services. Sportradar’s licensing now spans a comprehensive gamut of jurisdictions across North American states, territories, tribal lands, and Canada with a total of 56 licenses or equivalents.
With such a dynamic start, North Carolina’s online sports betting market is poised to revolutionize the state’s relationship with sports wagering, all while amplifying the spectator experience and potentially generating substantial economic benefits for the Old North State.
