In a significant move for the gambling industry, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission has set the stage for online sports betting to kickoff on March 11th. However, the invitation to the digital gaming tables begins earlier, with registration and account funding starting on March 1st. This key milestone was reached following the due diligence and groundwork laid by the state when Governor Roy Cooper inked House Bill 347 into law on June 14th of the previous year.
In compliance with the new legislation, North Carolina had stipulated that regulations governing sports betting needed to be made public by January 8, 2024, and that wagers must be accepted no later than June 14, 2024. This timeline fueled anticipation and speculation, which heightened when the Commission set a deadline of January 26 for potential operators to submit their internal controls for approval.
In the surge of preparation, this week brought forth two crucial updates. As of Wednesday, the Commission has granted two entities – GeoComply and SBTech – the coveted full sports wagering supplier licenses. Taking into account the seven provisional licenses issued on February 9, the tally now boasts a total of two full licenses and 14 provisional licenses under the Commission’s oversight. Operators with provisional licenses have an initial grace period of 180 days.
Further solidifying the state’s commitment to responsible gambling, the same day saw the approval of a voluntary self-exclusion program aligned with the NC Problem Gambling Programme. The program has been dedicated to the prevention of gambling harm, as well as the provision of educational resources and supportive services. An extension made possible by House Bill 347 envisages an additional allocation of $2 million annually to expand these services.
Residents of North Carolina seeking to avoid the pitfalls of gambling can, through the Commission’s online portal, file a self-exclusion enrolment request for a span of one year, three years, five years, or even for a lifetime. This measure effectively bars them from placing bets online, in retail sportsbooks, or on horse races – with any accidental winnings being forfeited.
Operators, meanwhile, are required by law to enforce responsible gambling measures, including employee training and the ethical directive that advertising must not target individuals below the age of 21.
The sports betting market in North Carolina is poised for a competitive start, with major operators like Caesars Entertainment leveraging an extended partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to open the doors to mobile sports betting. Others like DraftKings, BetMGM, and ESPN Bet have clinched their market access, while the sphere is set to be further diversified by collaborations such as Fanatics Betting and Gaming with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, and Underdog with McConnell Golf.
A report by Legal Sports Report confirmed this Wednesday that the Commission is liaising with eight operators to ensure they are fully licensed by the launch date. Additionally, Bet365 and FanDuel are names slated to join the fray.
Amidst the whirl of preparations, it is evident that the stakeholders are sparing no effort to ensure a smooth and impressive debut of North Carolina’s online sports betting. With the date set, all eyes will be on March 11th, a day that promises to mark a new era of digital gaming in the state.
