March 11 Set For Mobile Sports Betting To Go Live In North Carolina
Article By
Last Updated: 
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission on Wednesday set March 11 at noon ET as the go-live date for legal mobile sports betting across the state.
On March 1, bettors can begin setting up and funding accounts on licensed sports betting apps.
Mobile Betting Begins In Time For March Madness
The March 11 go-live date is prior to the March 17 Selection Sunday show for the men’s NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. On March 17, fans will learn which bracket their teams are in for the tournament.
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat and University of North Carolina graduate, had urged the commission to approve a go-live date in time for March Madness.
The March 11 go-live date also gives bettors a chance in North Carolina to wager legally on the ACC basketball tournament set for March 12-16 in Washington, D.C.
Currently, the Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll has the North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 3 and Duke Blue Devils at No. 12. Expectations are high for those intense rivals at the upcoming ACC and March Madness tournaments.
Tournament Basketball Dates
Below are key dates of interest to basketball fans and bettors in North Carolina.
March 12-16: ACC Men’s basketball tournament at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
NCAA Men’s March Madness basketball tournament
March 17: Selection Sunday
March 19-20: First four
March 21-22: First round
March 28-29: Sweet 16
March 30-31: Elite Eight
April 6: Final Four in Glendale, Arizona
April 8: NCAA championship game in Glendale, Arizona.
Sources: Duke, ACC, NCAA websites
In addition to statewide interest in the basketball tournaments, fans and bettors in North Carolina are expected to be focused on college baseball. The collegiate baseball season begins in mid-February, with the national title game taking place in June. North Carolina has five teams in the preseason D1 Baseball Top 25 poll, including No. 1 ranked Wake Forest.
In-Person Betting Starts Later
On Wedneday, the Lottery Commission, which oversees sports betting in the state, voted unanimously on the March 11 start date for mobile sports betting. Bettors must be at least 21 years old.
On March 1, approved mobile sportsbooks will be "allowed to accept information to create new accounts for new North Carolina players," according to a presentation to the commission by Sterl Carpenter, deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting. Sports betting operators must first obtain a certificate of compliance to begin signing up bettors.
Also on March 1, bettors can set up a means to fund their accounts in preparation for the March 11 go-live date.
Currently, no sports betting operators have been approved to operate in the state, but when they are licensed they wil be identified on ncgaming.gov.
After mobile wagering is launched, in-person sports betting at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks will begin at a yet-undetermined date on a case-by-case basis.
Be first to get our exclusive sports offers!
Join today to stay up to date on your states gambling news and offers.
Updated by
Last Updated:
