North Carolina Sports Betting: The Comprehensive Guide
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North Carolina sports betting just launched on March 11, 2024. After sports betting HB 347 was passed, and Governor Roy Cooper signed it into law.
North Carolina residents over 21 can now seamlessly bet on professional and college sports via computer, mobile app, or in person.
The North Carolina Lottery Commission (NCLC) is now responsible for overseeing the process, and it can issue up to 12 interactive sports betting licenses to operators.
Right now, eight operators, including DraftKings North Carolina Sportsbook, BetMGM North Carolina Sportsbook, ESPN BET North Carolina Sportsbook, Bet365 North Carolina, Caesars NC, FanDuel North Carolina and Underdog have their sports betting licenses and are open to take wagers within the State borders.
In addition to generating significant tax revenue, the recent launch of North Carolina Sports Betting will likely increase the area's jobs and tourism. Residents of neighboring states may be tempted to visit the Tar Heel state to take advantage of North Carolina Sportsbook promos.
The state will tax the betting operators, and will put such revenue back into infrastructure and education, as well as addiction treatment programs, among other areas.
The state's foray into legal betting also looks set to be a big benefit to North Carolina's sports culture. Fans of the Charlotte Hornets NBA team and NHL side Carolina Hurricanes can now bet on their team's matches.
And those heading to the Quail Hollow Club for the PGA Tour's Wells Fargo Championship will also be able to place a wager on which golfer they think will win the tournament.
The Legislative Journey of North Carolina Sports Betting
The legalization of North Carolina Sports Betting goes back to 2019, when retail sports betting at tribal casinos became legal.
Senate Bill 154 went through the Senate with a 43-7 vote in favor, and the House then voted 90-27 in favor and Cooper signed it into law.
In-person sports betting in North Carolina has been available to those visiting Cherokee’s Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprises and the Catawba Two Kings Casino since 2021.
The first retail sportsbook in the state was Caesars NC Sportsbook, which opened in May 2021, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.
Another Senate Bill, SB 688, was passed through, with a 26-19 vote, to allow between 10 and 12 online North Carolina Sportsbooks to launch.
Initial signs seemed good when the bill arrived in the North Carolina House in 2022, but hopes of North Carolina betting apps being used in 2022 were eventually quashed in June that year, when the House voted 50-51 against it.
One of the issues was several lawmakers in the state were not morally keen for the introduction of legal sports betting and mobile betting on North Carolina sportsbooks.
But those in favor of the bill were keen to increase tourism and jobs in the state, as well as revenue.
However, the vote meant it would be at least another year before online sports betting in North Carolina could become a reality, which it did when House Bill 347 was passed and signed into law.
Earlier this year, the North Carolina Lottery Commission approved a new set of rules to govern the North Carolina sports betting market via a 256-page document.
Starting March 11, 2024, eight of the top US online betting sites are taking bets, and the State will benefit not only in tax revenue.
Economic and Social Impacts
Each of the North Carolina sports betting license holders' gross gaming revenue will be taxed at 18%, after the Senate raised the rate from the House's 14% suggestion.
According to North Carolina law, this is "the total of amounts received by an interactive sports wagering operator from sports wagers as authorized under this Article, less the amounts paid as winnings before any deductions for expenses, fees, or taxes".
However, the tax rate in neighboring Virginia is 15%, while in neighboring Tennessee, the state taxes operators based on the total amount bet.
To launch North Carolina sportsbooks, operators must also have a written agreement with a sports team, venue, or league. Eight sportsbooks currently have their licenses and are operating without major issues.
Sports betting operators in the state will also have to stump up a $1 million licensing fee, with a further $1 million renewable fee due after five years.
According to the North Carolina General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division, sports betting in the state is expected to generate $64.6 million in taxes in its first year, and up to $100.6 million in the fourth year of online sports betting in North Carolina being legalized.
Of the funds generated by the state from legal sports betting, $2 million will be invested into The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) for gambling addiction education and treatment programs.
North Carolina Amateur Sports will receive a $1 million grant to fund a program to increase youth sports opportunities.
What's more, $1 million will be given to North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission grants, and the state will pump $300,000 each into 13 state universities every year to support their athletic departments. There will also be up to $500,000 put aside for NCLC expenses.
After that, 50% of any remaining proceeds will go to the state's General Fund, 30% to the North Carolina Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund, and 20% will be distributed equally to the aforementioned 13 universities to support their athletic departments increasingly.
Sports Culture Impact
In North Carolina, the sports betting scene is like a friendly neighborhood game—growing and full of excitement, especially among those who love a good basketball rivalry like the famous Duke versus UNC matchup. Thanks to the recent approval of the law and the launch of sports betting, the state, traditionally conservative when it comes to gambling, warmly welcomed the idea. for North Carolinanders, it's all about capturing the fun and potential perks of betting on sports, turning game-watching into a more social and engaging activity.
While it's still pretty new, the sports betting community vibe is getting more vibrant by the day. It's like we're all part of this, seeing where it can take our game-watching parties and fan get-togethers. We are just getting started, but there's a real sense of joy and anticipation as everyone looks forward to what's next in North Carolina's sports betting adventure.
With this, North Carolina joined the growing list of states embracing sports betting. Players are eager to wager, using the best March Madness Betting Sites. This is a pivotal moment for sports enthusiasts across the state, with legal and regulated venues to place bets on one of the most anticipated events in college basketball.
How North Carolina Bettors Can Join
North Carolina sports betting enthusiasts can now sign up to sites like DraftKings North Carolina Sportsbook, BetMGM North Carolina Sportsbook, Bet365 North Carolina Sportsbook, ESPN BET North Carolina Sportsbook, Caesars NC, and FanDuel North Carolina Sportsbook, among others, where there is no doubt be North Carolina sportsbook promotions aplenty. Just to give you an idea, within BetMGM NC, you can Get $150 Instantly in Bonus Bets after your first $5 wager. How great is that?
Creating Sportsbook Accounts
For each Sportsbook, simply follow these easy and straightforward steps:
1. Click "sign up" on the website or app
2 Make your first deposit
3. Choose a sport and select a market to bet on
4. Enter how much you wish to bet and submit your bet slip
Legal Betting Age
North Carolina residents over the age of 21 will be able to bet on professional and college sports by computer, mobile app or in-person.
Events Allowed To Bet On
There will be a huge number of sports betting markets to wager on, including football, basketball, baseball, golf, hockey and soccer, and many more.
How Betting Odds Work For Beginners
- American odds: As the name suggests, they are commonly used in the US and give you a triple-digit number with either a (-) or (+) symbol. The whole American odds system is based on A$100.
- For example, the numbers next to a (-) sign tell you how much you need to bet to win $100. If you're browsing the best football betting sites and you fancy a team to win at odds of -200, you need to wager A$200 to win A$100 in profit.
- Following a winning bet on these odds, you’d have A$300 in your account (your stake and your wager).
- The (+) symbol next to the numbers tells you how much you can win by betting A$100. If you wager A$100 on odds of +200, you'll make A$200 in profit. After this bet, you’ll have A$300 in your account (your stake and your profit).
Importance Of Responsible Gambling
First-time North Carolina bettors should also bear in mind it is important to practice responsible betting.
Punters should only bet what they can afford to lose, and if they are wagering and the fun stops, they should stop betting.
Comparing North Carolina With Other Legalized Betting States
Unlike in other states, such as Vermont, North Carolina sports betting doesn't have restrictions on games featuring in-state colleges.
College sports are an important part of North Carolina's sporting landscape, and they will benefit heavily from legal betting in the state.
While North Carolina could one day regret not implementing stricter college betting regulations like some of the other states, some North Carolina punters may be more familiar with sports betting regulations than residents of other states who have welcomed such betting for the first time.
That's because in-person sports betting is already allowed at certain locations.
One positive for North Carolina compared to other states is the amount of revenue it looks set to generate.
As discussed, the North Carolina sports betting license holders' gross gaming revenue is set to be taxed at 18%, after the Senate raised it from the House's 14% suggestion.
That is higher than nearby Virgina's 15% tax rate, while neighboring Tennessee taxes operators based on the betting handle.
Furthermore, Michigan taxes its online sports betting operators at 8.4%, and Ohio, which launched sports betting in January 2023, doubled its tax rate within six months.
The state started with a 10% tax rate, but that has now increased to 20%.
Should things go the same way in North Carolina, then perhaps the Tar Heel state could follow suit and up its rates within the first year?
Technology and Security
The introduction of sports betting in North Carolina is hitting the gambling industry at an interesting time for technology advancements, with some industry experts predicting AI technology could be introduced into betting on a grand scale within the next three to five years.
The top mobile betting operators with North Carolina sportsbooks are well-versed in running secure betting apps.
For example, BetMGM uses SSL encryption to secure data in transit, and the company's app also has a secure backend, and authentication.
What's more, the Caesars app—like the Bet365 Sportsbook app — has firewalls protecting its servers, and there are controls in place in case of any data breaches.
FanDuel is even in partnership with HackerOne, which runs a bug bounty program to monitor potential issues and ensure customers' data is secure.
Creating a strong password is often a good place to start for anyone concerned about security measures on sports betting apps.
The NCLC oversees the whole process, ensuring operators' top-notch technology is being used since launch day.
North Carolina Sports Betting Offers a Robust Market to Attract Players
North Carolina just launched its sports betting market, just in time for the NCAA March Madness tournament, despite not being ready for the football season and the Super Bowl. This event is anticipated to generate significant betting activity, particularly given the state's enthusiasm for college sports.
Unique among some states, North Carolina does not restrict wagering on college sports, including those involving in-state colleges or individual college athletes. This open approach contrasts with jurisdictions that limit betting on local college teams or specific types of bets on college players.
The state's comprehensive sports betting catalog, approved in early November 2023, encompasses professional sports, college sports (even those within the state), the Olympics, and the XFL, offering a wide range of betting opportunities.
Although eSports were not included in the initial betting offerings, betting operators have the option to request permission from the North Carolina Lottery to offer bets on specific eSports events.
North Carolina's betting landscape features a variety of wagering options, such as point spread bets, totals, money line bets, same-game parlays, live in-game betting, and more, ensuring a robust betting market.
Additional Resources
- The North Carolina Problem Gambling Program (NCPGP) provides and supports effective problem gambling prevention, education, outreach and treatment services throughout North Carolina.
North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline: 877-718-5543
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) also supports gambling assistance program More Than a Game:
- Phone: 877-718-5543
- Text: Send phrase morethanagamenc to 53342
- Live chat: morthanagame.nc.gov
- North Carolina Education Lottery’s Play Smart program - https://nclottery.com/playsmart-play-smarter
Support Services
- The National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-GAMBLER. (CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY)
- The National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) is available 24/7 and is 100% confidential
- The National Council on Problem Gambling offers text services at 800-522-4700 as well as chat services through their website https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/chat/
- Gamblers Anonymous is an organization that helps individuals recover from gambling problems. 24/7 gambling problem hotline at 855-222-5542.
- Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY)
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