Mobile Sports Betting Start Date Undecided In North Carolina, Governor Wants March Madness Launch

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission did not discuss setting a “go-live” date for mobile sports betting at its Wednesday meeting. The governor is pushing for a launch in time for March Madness.

No mobile sports betting licenses have been awarded yet, though Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has indicated “the idea” is to allow mobile wagering in time for the men’s NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. Selection Sunday is March 17. The tournament begins March 19-20 in Dayton, Ohio. The Final Four games are April 6-8 in Phoenix.

North Carolina is home to pro franchises in the major sports leagues but also has traditional college basketball powerhouses with large fan bases, including the University of North Carolina (No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll) and Duke University (No. 11).

At Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners were told mobile operators, once licensed, can begin offering their apps to bettors at any time on or after whatever go-live date is set.

A sports betting operator’s ability to meet licensing requirements and go live on or after the start date “is in its own hands,” said Sterl Carpenter, state deputy executive director for gaming compliance and sports betting.

 Mobile Operators Seek Licenses 

Also, at Wednesday’s meeting, the commissioners were shown the nine sports betting operators who had applied for a license. Carpenter said others can still apply.

The following operators still must meet the compliance and approval process before they can go live on whatever start date is ultimately set.

• Betfair Interactive U.S. (FanDuel)
• BetMGM
• Catawba Two Kings Casino
• Crown N.C. Gaming (DraftKings)
• FBG Enterprises North Carolina (Fanatics)
• Hillside North Carolina (Bet365)
• Penn Sports Interactive (ESPN BET)
• Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Cherokee
• Underdog Sports Wagering

Sports wagering will begin at commercial brick-and-mortar sportsbooks after mobile apps are allowed to go live, Carpenter has said.

On Wednesday, the commission voted unanimously to approve the Sports Betting Committee’s recommendations for testing labs and internal controls for operators. Carpenter said the deadline to meet the controls is Jan. 26.

Wagering Legal For Pro, College Sports

By law, commercial sports betting officially became legal in North Carolina on Jan. 8 for people at least 21 years old wanting to wager on computers, cellphone apps, or in person at sportsbooks. However, commercial sports betting can’t begin until on or after whatever go-live date is set. The deadline is June 15.

Currently, in-person North Carolina sports betting is legal at three tribal casinos: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, and Catawba Two Kings Casino.