North Carolina Sports Betting
Legal sports betting is on the way in North Carolina!
Is Sports Betting Legal in North Carolina?
Sports betting is now legal in the state of North Carolina, but it is limited. At the time of this writing, the only North Carolina sportsbooks are located in two of the Native American casinos.
North Carolina Sports Betting Legislation
The path toward legal sports gambling in North Carolina began with a landmark Supreme Court ruling that was handed down in May of 2018. This case started in 2012 after voters in the state of New Jersey approved a measure that would legalize sports gaming.
A lawsuit was filed by the major professional sports teams along with the NCAA to block the action. They cited the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) that was enacted in 1992. It placed a federal prohibition on sports gaming in every state except Nevada.
It was set aside by the Supreme Court by a 6–3 majority when they issued the ruling in 2018. This opened the door to legal sports betting in North Carolina, and lawmakers in the state took advantage of the opportunity.
Governor Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 154 on July 26, 2019. It legalized sports betting and horserace wagering on tribal lands. It took some time to implement the plan, but the first North Carolina sportsbooks started taking bets in March of 2021.
History of North Carolina Sports Betting Law
2018: The United States Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This removes the federal prohibition on sports gambling in the United States.
2019: Senate Bill 154 passes, and is signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper. It makes sports betting legal at the Native American casinos, and it extends to horse race wagering.
2021: The first legal sports bets are taken at Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos. Senate Bill 688 is introduced to expand sports betting to the private sector, and it includes online sports betting.
How are North Carolina Sports Betting Sites Regulated?
At the present time, the only legal sports betting in NC is at the Native American casinos. Since commercial casino gambling is not legal in North Carolina, and there are no horse racing tracks, there has never been a gaming commission.
Senate Bill 574 was introduced on April 3, 2019, and it proposed the authorization of a study to consider the possibility of establishing a gaming commission. It passed in September of that year, and Governor Cooper signed it, so the study is being conducted.
There is a Lottery Commission in the state, and it may be empowered to regulate the commercial North Carolina casinos. This has been done in other states that have adopted legal sports betting.
With regard to the Native American casinos, they operate under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. They are locally regulated by the Cherokee Tribal Gaming Commission.
Sportsbooks We Expect to See in NC
We definitely expect to see online sports wagering in North Carolina in the relatively near future, and we have seen rollouts in many other states. As a result, we have a good idea of what to expect when legal sports gambling is offered through the internet.
There are a number of online sportsbooks that have dominant positions in the marketplace. They are in competition with one another, so they all have an incentive to go the extra mile to keep their players happy.
DraftKings
You would be hard-pressed to find a sports fan that is not familiar with DraftKings. It has established a solid foundation in the daily fantasy sports space in most states, and it has a robust user base.
As a result, DraftKings has been well-positioned to expand into the online sports betting space, and it will almost certainly have a presence when betting in North Carolina is fully legalized.
FanDuel
The other major daily fantasy sports operator is FanDuel, and it has enjoyed the same advantage as an existing part of the online sports gambling infrastructure. FanDuel takes bets on all the major sports in America, and it also accepts wagers on some international sporting events.
North Carolina online betting enthusiasts will have this option as well, and you can have accounts at both sites to take advantage of multiple bonus opportunities.
BetMGM
Another major player in the legal sports betting space is BetMGM. Its parent company, MGM Resorts International, is one of the leading casino gaming corporations in the world. It has a reputation to uphold, and it shows when you play on BetMGM sites.
It has a presence in 11 of the states that have legal sports gambling, so there is a good chance that BetMGM will add North Carolina to the list as soon as it can.
PointsBet
When sports betting in North Carolina is rolled out in earnest, it is very likely that you will have the opportunity to make wagers on a PointsBet site. This operator has been making a splash in the industry because of its unique “PointsBetting” concept.
The amount that you win or lose is based on the margin of victory or loss, and this adds a new dimension to the sports betting experience.
Bet365
You are likely to see Bet365 in the mix when online sports wagering in North Carolina becomes a reality. This name may not be as familiar to Americans as some of the others, but it has been huge in Europe for many years.
Bet365 gets good reviews from users in New Jersey, and it has been approved to establish online sports betting sites in New York and Colorado.
BetRivers
Another one of the sportsbooks North Carolina sports fans will be able to visit is BetRivers. It made its first online appearance in Pennsylvania in 2019, and it has expanded to six other states.
BetRivers has been trying to enter additional marketplaces, and there is little doubt that it will target North Carolina as soon as applications are being accepted.
FOX Bet
As one of the major NFL and college football broadcasting networks, FOX has been perfectly positioned to take advantage of its status to enter the legal online sports betting fray.
It has established FOX Bet presences in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado, and that’s just the beginning. Since the company has so much clout, it will probably be one of the operators that will be able to take advantage of North Carolina online betting legalization.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Entertainment is a legendary name in the American gambling industry, and they have extended their reach into the realm of online sports gambling.
London-based William Hill has been a major sportsbook operator in the United States, and Caesars completed an acquisition of the company in April of 2021. When North Carolina sportsbooks start accepting bets, Caesars may be one of the more appealing options.
Top 5 North Carolina Sports Teams to Bet On
The state of North Carolina has always been a bastion of college basketball excellence, and the pro sports teams are another source of pride. Betting on the home team takes the excitement to another level, and North Carolinians will be able to have that experience in the near future.
Carolina Panthers
NFL football came to North Carolina in 1995 when the Carolina Panthers entered the league as an expansion team. During that inaugural campaign, they actually played their home games in South Carolina at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.
This helped to make them the team of the Carolinas in a regional sense, and their current home is the beautiful Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Panthers are one of the best North Carolina sports teams to bet on, and they will take plenty of action at the North Carolina casinos.
Charlotte Hornets
North Carolina NBA fans can support the Charlotte Hornets when sports betting in North Carolina is easily accessible all over the state. Basketball legend Michael Jordan is the team owner, and his presence brings an authentic native son quality to the franchise.
The Hornets may not be a perennial powerhouse because of the relatively small market, but there is nothing better than collecting on a bet when you supported your hometown underdog.
Duke Blue Devils Basketball
In general, football is the most popular sport to bet on, but the dynamic is a little more complicated in North Carolina because of the basketball factor.
Mike Krzyzewski has been a coach of the Duke Blue Devils basketball team since 1980, and he has won over a thousand games. Duke has won five National Championships during his tenure, and over the years, people that bet on Duke usually take home the money.
North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball
Before Krzyzewski came along, Duke basketball could not compare with the North Carolina program that was already firmly established under legendary coach Dean Smith. They developed a heated rivalry as Duke improved, and it persists to this day.
North Carolina is usually going to be in the mix for the national title, so they are definitely one of the top teams to support if you are betting some of your cold hard cash.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hartford Whalers of the NHL became the Carolina Hurricanes when they moved to North Carolina in 1997. They captured the Stanley Cup in 2006, and this is the only professional sports championship that has ever been won by a North Carolina team.
If you like hockey and you are a loyal North Carolinian, this is the team to bet at the online sports betting sites.
North Carolina Team Partnerships with Sportsbooks
In the states that have legal sports betting, some teams have partnered with specific sportsbooks. For example, the activity is legal in Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Eagles have partnered with DraftKings, Unibet, and FOX Bet.
Since online sports wagering in North Carolina is still being worked out logistically, none of these partnerships have been announced as of yet. We are closely monitoring the rollout, and we will share information about partnerships as soon as it becomes available, so stay tuned.
North Carolina Betting Markets
A “betting market” is a type of bet that is offered on a particular event. For example, in an NFL football game, point spread betting would be one market, moneyline wagering would be another, and the over/under totals wagering would be a third market.
The online sportsbooks NC residents will be able to access will be run by many of the same companies that already have presences in other states. As a result, we know what to expect with regard to the betting markets that they will offer.
In addition to bets on sides and totals, you will be able to wager on futures and propositions. A futures bet is usually a season-long wager on a team to win an overall championship or a league, conference or division title.
Propositions are bets on certain aspects of a contest. For example, you may be able to bet the over/under on the number of yards gained by a running back or touchdown passes by a quarterback.
How to Deposit and Withdraw from NC Sports Betting Sites
Since online sports betting in North Carolina is going to be legal, there will be many different totally legitimate deposit methods that can be utilized. FanDuel is expected to be one of the North Carolina sportsbooks, so its New Jersey deposit options are a good indicator.
You can transfer funds directly from your bank account, and it accepts Visa and MasterCard deposits. PayPal is another popular option, and players can make deposits through Venmo.
FanDuel will accept wire transfers, and there are “pay near me” sites where you can load funds into your account. In New Jersey, they are in convenience stores, chain drug stores, and two major retailers.
It relatively easy to withdraw funds from your FanDuel account. You can make withdrawals through PayPal or online banking, and you can request a check by mail.
If you have access to a land-based casino with a FanDuel sportsbook, you can make withdrawals at the counter, and you can also make deposits.
Mobile Sports Betting in North Carolina
The expansion of legal betting in North Carolina was approved in the Senate by a 26-19 vote. A larger majority voted in favor of the legalization of sportsbooks in North Carolina casinos that are operated by the Cherokee tribe.
Most lawmakers want to make sports betting legal because they want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to generate a fresh revenue stream. Online betting is the most convenient option, and mobile sports betting is part of this equation.
There is little doubt that people will be able to bet on sports through mobile apps that can be accessed on iPhones, Androids, and tablets. The mobile versions of these online sportsbooks are just as user-friendly as the standard sports betting sites.
How North Carolina Sports Betting Compares to the Other Legal States
The Senate bill that was passed in August allows wagering on college, pro, electronic and amateur sports. It states that online betting is included along with in-person betting at licensed locations that have yet to be determined.
We do not know any of the specifics at this time, but once again, we are paying close attention to the pending rollout.
One thing we can say for sure is that North Carolina is the 22nd state to legalize sports betting since the Supreme Court ruling was handed down in 2018. There is a clear-cut model in place, and they are not going to try to reinvent the wheel as a new entrant.
They will establish the guidelines from a legal perspective, but they are going to rely on the expertise that the online sportsbooks bring to the table. At the end of the day, online betting in North Carolina will mirror the experiences that people are having elsewhere with a few tweaks.
Responsible Gambling
You are emotionally invested when your favorite team is playing, even if you do not have money riding on the game. On the other hand, if you do not care about the outcome of a game you are watching, the experience is entirely different.
When you can get out your smartphone and use a North Carolina sports betting app to make a wager, everything changes. You are sitting on the edge of your seat, and every twist and turn matters.
Unfortunately, some people take sports gambling to extremes, and it becomes a problem. It is important to keep it in perspective and gamble in a responsible manner.
North Carolina Sports Betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?
Yes, sports betting is already legal at the tribal casinos, and lawmakers are in the process of establishing statewide sports wagering legalization guidelines.
Is mobile betting legal in NC?
The bill that has been passed by the North Carolina Senate does include online sports betting and mobile betting.
Where can wager on sports in North Carolina?
At the time of this writing, you can make sports bets at the NC sportsbooks that are located in the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy.
Is sports betting federally legal?
On May 14, 2018, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. From that day forward, sports betting has been legal on the federal level.
Will I need to be an NC resident to bet online?
The comprehensive guidelines have not been finalized, but in other states that have legalized sports betting, you have to be physically present in the state. You do not necessarily have to be a state resident.
When will sports betting launch in NC?
We do not have a launch date to pass along at the present time, but lawmakers have a monetary motivation to act quickly. You should visit this site often because we will be sharing information about the rollout as it becomes available.
