📖 Welcome to the sports betting world, North Carolina! While in-person betting has been legal in the state for some time, online sports betting only underwent its full launch on 11th March 2024. In this article, we dive into everything you need to know about North Carolina sports betting, so read on!
- 1 Best North Carolina Sports Betting Sites
- 2 Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?
- 3 North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline
- 4 ❀Sports Betting Revenue &Taxation in North Carolina
- 5 Legal Sports Betting Operators in North Carolina
- 6 North Carolina Sports Betting Apps
- 7 North Carolina Sports Betting Promotions
- 8 North Carolina Sports Betting Law & Regulations
- 9 Legal Sportsbooks in North Carolina
- 10 Best North Carolina Sports Teams To Bet on
- 11 ﷺBenefits of Regulated North Carolina Online Sports Betting
- 12 How To Bet on North Carolina Sportsbook
- 13 North Carolina Sports Betting Facts
- 14 North Carolina Sports Betting Handle
- 15 Responsible Gaming in North Carolina
- 16 States With Legal Online Sports Betting
- 17 North Carolina Sports Betting Final Say
- 18 North Carolina Resources
- 19 faqs
Best North Carolina Sports Betting Sites
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Full T&Cs apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER |
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Full T&Cs apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER |
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Full T&Cs apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER |
Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?
🔯 Following the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, a litany of US states went about legalizing sports betting.
💛 While in-person sports betting at tribal North Carolina casinos has been legal since 2019, online sports betting has only just recently been legalized. After Governor Roy Cooper signed HB 347 into law in 2023, the full launch of sports betting in the Tar Heel State has been inevitable. That launch arrived on 11 March 2024.
North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline
2018 – The Supreme Court overturns PASPA.
🍨 2019 – North Carolina passes a law which allows tribal casinos to be modified in order to offer in-person sports betting.
♚ 2021 – The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians open sportsbooks at two locations.
🐽 2022 – The Catawba Indian Nation opens their temporary sportsbook in Kings Mountain.
ꦫ 2023 – State passes new law which will expand number of retail sportsbooks in North Carolina and legalize online sports betting.
♑ 2024 – The first eight online sportsbooks launch in the state. 12 wagering licenses are handed out in total.
Sports Betting Revenue &Taxation in North Carolina
🌠 As we’re at a very early stage of North Carolina sports betting following its recent online launch, figures regarding tax revenues are just projections. Nevertheless, the state is set to earn plenty.
Online sportsbooks will pay a 14% tax rate (on their winnings) on top of a $1m licensing fee to open up. Gamblers, meanwhile, will be subject to North Carolina’s 4.75% individual state tax on their winnings.
ღ It’s poised to take some time for the state to begin earning huge amounts from sports betting taxation. As a result of bonuses from new customer promotions, which aren’t taxable, the state is to garner approximately $13m in tax revenue this year, $22m in 2024-25, and $31m in 2025-26.
🐻 The taxes they generate will go towards multiple projects — the biggest chunk dedicated to gambling addiction education and treatment. Youth sports will also be heavily invested in, as will various university athletic departments.
Legal Sports Betting Operators in North Carolina
෴ There are eight online sportsbooks now operating in the state following its launch. Here are the five best:
FanDuel
The immensely popular FanDuel🥀 has secured a pair of major partnerships following the legalization of sports betting in North Carolina. The bookmaker is operating in tandem with the PGA Tour and the Carolina Panthers.
♉ FanDuel’s rise to prominence and supreme popularity following its launch in 2009 isn’t hard to understand. This is a sports bettor’s dream with unique promotions, high-quality odds, and an easy-to-use interface. The platform was also the pioneer of the same-game parlay bet, which has become almost ubiquitous among US sportsbooks.
- Same-game parlay pioneers
- Unique promotions, especially for March Madness
- Easy-to-navigate website/mobile app
- No loyalty program for existing customers
- Some complaints of geolocation issues
DraftKings
The tried and trusted DraftKings🐷 is another popular option for sports bettors, with its sportsbook swiftly emerging as an industry leader after its 2018 emergence.
ꦇ The broad sportsbook boasts a rewards program capable of rivalling BetMGM’s, with DraftKings ensuring that all events are covered in impressive depth.
𒅌 The in-play experience is superb, too. Livestreams are accessible, and new customers can make the most of an array of NC sportsbooks promotions and a generous welcome offer.
𒊎 All in all, this is a fundamentally excellent bookmaker with few faults.
- Dynasty Rewards is a unique and excellent loyalty program
- Superb live experience with streams available
- Sophisticated sportsbook offering a litany of sports
- Minimal customer service support avenues
- Odds are not always the very best on the market
BetMGM
Another huge sportsbook, BetMGM൲ gained a betting license in North Carolina in March 2024. Backed by MGM Resorts International, this bookie is prominent across the US and is even available to UK bettors.
꧃ North Carolina sports bettors will immediately gain access to the potential of securing lucrative VIP prizes after signing up with this sportsbook. There are plenty of bonus bets to enjoy upon registration, too!
🉐 BetMGM’s sportsbook is comprehensive; and while their odds might not be the very best around, bettors can take advantage of various promotions, such as Parlay Boosts, Fast Breaks, and Odds Boosts.
♏ There may be a few teething issues early on when navigating through a rather hectic interface, but once you’ve settled down, you’ll be able to enjoy a very good sportsbook that aims to frequently reward its customers.
- Frequent odds and parlay boosts
- Lucrative VIP prizes on offer
- Stellar bonuses and promotions
- Interface is quite chaotic
- Higher minimum withdrawals compared to competitors
ESPN Bet
ಌ The high-profile cable sports network teamed up with PENN Entertainment to create ESPN Bet. Who knows, given the backing it’s bound to receive, this bookie could shake up the current hegemony at the top of the US betting world.
𝓡 Despite its current primacy, ESPN Bet has secured a license in North Carolina and is hopeful of a productive debut month in the state with March Madness bound to entice plenty of sports bettors.
🌟 This is a fun bookmaker to sign up to and bet with, offering a whole host of promotions to enjoy. Their PENN Play Program is particularly brilliant, and there’s plenty of Stephen A. Smith, too.
- PENN Play program offers stellar rewards
- Fun bookmaker to use
- Diverse promotions and abundance of offers
- Lack of livestreaming
- Issues with lag when betting in-play
Caesars Sportsbook
⛎ The largest retail sportsbook in the US is the most prominent sportsbook in North Carolina given the presence of two retail locations on Indian lands in the state.
ꦿ New customers have a couple of welcome offers to choose from when they sign up. An excellent casino product is available upon registration, but their sportsbook is also superb.
๊ As well as their high-value new customer bonuses, Caesars also offer Profit Boosts and Bonus Bets as part of their promos package. Moreover, there’s a unique rewards system which can earn users some tremendous prizes, including tickets to NFL games.
🃏 Same-game parlays as well as slick live graphics are two notable features of Caesars’ online sportsbook, giving you the luxury of enjoying an extensive menu of betting markets.
- Generous rewards system which offers high-value prizes
- NFL games can be watched live on the app
- Multiple new customer bonuses to choose from
- Confusion when accessing sportsbook menu given lack of alphabetisation
- Mobile app doesn’t always provide the cleanest of technical performances
North Carolina Sports Betting Apps
👍 Here is the list of the top North Carolina sports betting apps worth trying:
FanDuelꩲ – The most popular sports betting app in the US, FanDuel boasts a stellar mobile app that provides a fun and smooth betting experience. The interface is easy to navigate, and there are plenty of promotions to get stuck into.
BetMGM🔥 – There’s no reduction of content on BetMGM’s mobile app despite the size of their sportsbook. Your live betting experience is enhanced by the availability of streams for major events.
ESPN Bet๊ – This newbie has quickly made strides in the industry, and ESPN Bet’s mobile app has garnered plenty of praise. It boasts an array of features, such as Parlay+, that ensure the interests of punters are gained and retained.
Caesars Sportsbook𝐆 – After taking advantage of Caesars’ high-value welcome offer, you can enjoy a fun mobile app with plenty of bonuses available. There’s something for everyone here, with NFL livestreaming and a same-game parlay builder standing out as two excellent features of Caesars’ mobile app.
DraftKings𝓡 – It didn’t take long for this bookie to emerge at the very top of the US gambling industry. DraftKings’ mobile app is easy to work through, with the sportsbook offering free-to-play pools each week. Bonuses are almost always available.
North Carolina Sports Betting Promotions
⛦ Here are some of the most popular North Carolina sports betting promotions following the state’s online launch:
DraftKings Get $150 in Bonus Bets
🦹 Expect sportsbooks to target March Madness following the legalization of online sports betting in North Carolina. DraftKings are certainly trying to entice college basketball lovers with their ‘MARCH MANIA’ new customer offer.
This offer is easy to earn — all you need to do is sign up with DraftKings and place a bet worth at least $5 after making your first deposit. Once this bet has been placed, you’ll immediately receive $150 in bonus bets.
♌ These bonuses are paid as six $25 bets and are valid for seven days.
FanDuel Bet $5 Get $200
There’s nothing majorly different about this promotion compared to DraftKings’, only FanDuel are offering a whopping $200 in bonuses!
🐠 To qualify, you must make a minimum $10 deposit and place a bet of at least $5 on any live FanDuel sports market. Unlike previous FanDuel offers, where you’ll only receive your bonuses if your qualifying bet wins or loses, your bonuses are guaranteed within 72 hours with this sports promotion.
This promo is only available on the FanDuel mobile app.
Caesars Bet $10 Get $250
Caesars are also offering an impressive $250 in bonuses𝐆, with North Carolina bettors having to place a minimum $10 bet to qualify for this promotion. These bonuses are credited as five $50 bonuses, each valid for 14 days after they’ve reached your account.
North Carolina Sports Betting Law & Regulations
ꩵ The newly-established North Carolina sports betting law is fairly unique with the initial bill authorising up to 12 online sportsbooks for licenses in the state. Such limitations aren’t too common across the US.
🤪 Eight in-person sportsbooks are also set to open in North Carolina after Governor Cooper signed Jason Saine’s sports betting bill into law.
ܫ Here are some of the key points in North Carolina’s sports betting law:
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꧑Each sports betting license costs $1m for five years.
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All sports bettors in North Carolina must be 21+.
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ꦅBettors are allowed to bet on in-state college teams and are able to place individual prop bets.
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♔High-school sports are prohibited from sports betting.
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💜Political and entertainment markets are also prohibited.
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💫You don’t have to be a North Carolina resident to bet in the state, but you must be located within state lines when placing a wager.
Legal Sportsbooks in North Carolina
🌱 North Carolina’s sports betting law restricts the operation of sportsbooks to just 11. However, tribes in the state do not count towards this limit and are eligible to enter the market separately. Below are all the online and retail sportsbooks currently operating in the state:
North Carolina Online & Mobile Sportsbooks
| Online sportsbook | Launched | Partner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | March 2024 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Live for mobile |
| DraftKings | March 2024 | NASCAR | Live for mobile |
| FanDuel | March 2024 | PGA Tour and the Carolina Panthers | Live for mobile |
| Caesars | March 2024 | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians | Live for mobile and retail |
| ESPN Bet | March 2024 | Quail Hollow Club and the PGA’S Wells Fargo Championship | Live for mobile |
| bet365 | March 2024 | Charlotte Hornets | Live for mobile |
| Fanatics | March 2024 | Carolina Hurricanes | Live for mobile |
| Underdog Sports | March 2024 | McConnell Golf | Live for mobile |
| Catawba Two Kings Casino | March 2024 | N/A | Approved for license |
Land-Based North Carolina Sportsbooks
| Casino | Sportsbook | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba Two Kings Casino | Catawba Two Kings Casino | 538 Kings Mountain Boulevard, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 |
| Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort | Caesars Sportsbooks at Harrah’s Cherokee | 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel | Caesars Sportsbook | 777 Casino Parkway, Murphy, NC 28906 |
Popular Sports To Bet on in North Carolina
⭕ If you are considering North Carolina online sports betting as your next activity, it helps to know the top sports to bet on:
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Football💦: America’s most popular sport is always going to be a prominent betting options for North Carolina bettors, even during the off season. When the hometown Panthers aren’t in action, sportsbooks may provide football markets which focus on the draft, for instance.
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Basketball: With North Carolina bettors allowed to bet on college sports, March Madness🀅 will dominate sportsbooks in the state for a brief period. UNC and Duke are the best-supported basketball teams in NC despite the presence of a professional franchise. NBA markets are also offered in great depth by leading sportsbooks.
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Ice hockey🐷: The Carolina Hurricanes are a local favorite, with NHL markets also being supplied in great depth and with immense variety by North Carolina sportsbooks.
Best North Carolina Sports Teams To Bet on
ไ Let's take a look at some of the most popular professional and collegiate sports teams to bet on in North Carolina:
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Carolina Panthers (NFL)✤ – One of the NFL’s newest franchises — having been founded in 1993 — the Panthers are yet to taste Super Bowl success despite reaching the big game on two occasions. Steve Smith and Cam Newton stand among Carolina’s superstars of years past, with 1st overall pick Bryce Young tasked with leading the franchise into a promising new dawn.
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Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)💙 – Once the New England Whalers, the Carolina Hurricanes came into existence in 1997 and have one Stanley Cup to their name, lifting the NHL’s grand prize in 2006. After enduring a lengthy slump in the wake of their only Stanley Cup triumph, the Hurricanes have returned to mainstream prominence in recent years.
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Charlotte Hornets (NBA)ཧ – Michael Jordan has a minority stake in the Hornets, who’ve endured a pretty wretched history since their 1988 foundation. There have been name changes and relocations, but little success. In their history, the Hornets have never won a division title and are infrequent participants in the NBA playoffs.
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Charlotte FC (MLS)꧙ – Charlotte were the beneficiaries of an ever-expanding MLS when Charlotte FC became the league’s 28th franchise in 2019. Former Premier League players Christian Fuchs and Ashley Westwood have represented the team since its inaugural 2022 season, with Charlotte qualifying for the playoffs in 2023.
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University of North Carolinaꦚ – The Tar Heels are one the most decorated collegiate institutions in the nation. UNC has won 50 NCAA team national championships across seven different sports. The men’s basketball team has won the third-most national titles with six. Michael Jordan is a notable alumnus.
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Duke Blue Devils💝 – While Duke can’t rival UNC across the board, the college has emerged as a basketball behemoth. The Duke Blue Devils have won five national titles in men’s basketball and 17 NCCA championships total.
Benefits of Regulated North Carolina Online Sports Betting
🎐 Below, we take a look at the advantages of sports betting in North Carolina:
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💜North Carolina sports betting law is setting aside $2m to improve gambling addictions education and treatment services.
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Tax rate isn’t harsh on North Carolina bettors.
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♌Clear plan laid out regarding how tax revenue will be distributed.
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♕Collegiate athletics and youth sports are set to benefit massively from tax dollars.
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♒Influx of job opportunities where sportsbooks will open up.
How To Bet on North Carolina Sportsbook
💞 There are multiple options for sports bettors in the state following the mobile launch in 2020.
⛦ To bet on sports in North Carolina, you can either check out one of the state’s three retail locations (as long as you're over 21) or create an online betting account with one of the eight sportsbooks in operation. Follow the steps below to get started with online sports betting in North Carolina:
♏ Pick one of the available online sportsbooks operating in North Carolina.
ꦚ Download their mobile app via the App Store or Google Play (iOS/Android).
ꩵ If you’re 21 or over, register for an online betting account.
🥂 Make a deposit into your account using one of the available payment methods.
Place your first wager!
North Carolina Sports Betting Facts
| Launch date | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Legal age | 21 |
| Retail betting | Yes |
| Online sports betting | Yes |
| esports betting | Yes |
| College sports betting | Yes |
| Mobile betting | Yes |
| Taxable winnings (individual) | 4.75% |
| Geolocation services | Yes |
| Regulator | North Carolina State Lottery Commission |
North Carolina Sports Betting Handle
ꦫ The recent March 2024 full launch of North Carolina sports betting means no concrete figures have been provided regarding the state’s debut monthly handle. However, there’s a distinct bullishness among industry leaders regarding the Tar Heel State.
𝐆 The impressive list of major online sportsbooks to launch there, combined with generous new customer promotions and March Madness, means many are expecting a huge month for North Carolina. The highly populated state could record a handle that ranks in the top five among all US states.
🌄 New York notched the biggest first month handle in January 2022 ($1,686,293,898).
Responsible Gaming in North Carolina
♛ There’s a dedicated page to responsible gambling on the . This page provides links and contact information for those that might require more help, as well as details on identifying a problem gambler.
States With Legal Online Sports Betting
🐻 At the time of writing, more than 35 states — plus Washington DC — have legalized sports betting in the US.
North Carolina Sports Betting Final Say
𓃲 The potential for North Carolina sports betting to skyrocket is distinct following the launch of online sportsbooks in the state. Given the presence of major sports franchises and college teams with some of the US’ premier sportsbooks, it’ll be interesting to see where North Carolina ranks in terms of handle and revenue in 2024.
North Carolina Resources
𝓡 Below, you will find key resources for legal sports betting in North Carolina:
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: Problem gambling support
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: Official state regulator
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: North Carolina online sports betting bill
faqs
♓In-person sports betting was legalized in 2019, but online sports betting in North Carolina was launched in March 2024.
🌱There are currently eight sports betting apps operating in the state, including BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, and Caesars.
✅Mobile sports betting was legalized in 2023 and launched in March 2024.
༺The sports betting tax rate in North Carolina is 18%.
🍎We believe that Caesars is one of the best NC betting sites, but everything depends on personal preferences. We have listed top North Carolina betting sites as per independent review, so feel free to check them out.
💮Yes, the state has legalized college sports betting and you will find different betting sites with such an option.