North Carolina Betting Sites: Legal Updates & Launch News

Current Situations of Sports Betting in North Carolina

Tribal casinos have dominated North Carolina’s sports betting landscape since its inception. Deals between Caesars and the pair of Harrah’s establishments introduced locals to retail sports gambling — but recent changes to state law allow for more variety in the betting space.

First, sportsbooks must partner with a North Carolina-based sports body to uptake operations. This led to DraftKings signing a deal with NASCAR, Bet365 teaming up with the Charlotte Hornets, and BetMGM finalizing a contract with the Charlotte Motor Speedway, among other agreements.

These changes see Caesars lose its vice-like grip on North Carolina’s sports betting industry as heavy-hitting competitors enter the fray. The tribal-linked sportsbook has only had to contest with a temporary operator in the form of Catawba Two Kings Casino before March, so it’ll be fascinating to see how the betting giant reacts to fresh competition. 

Top Sportsbooks Entering the North Carolina Market

Almost 20 operators — including Bet365, Fanatics, FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, and Underdog Sports — applied for sportsbook licenses in North Carolina following the state’s announcement on legal sports betting beginning March 11. Here, I weigh up three of the most attractive options for Tar Heels. 

ESPN Bet North Carolina

Founded in late 2023, ESPN Bet is one of the most recent additions to the US sports betting market. Its foray has had a tangible impact, and the fledgling sportsbook agreed to a deal with the PGA Wells Fargo Championship and the Quail Hollow Club to set up shop in North Carolina. 

Newly registered players get $100 in bonus bets for backing any selection and wagering any amount. This no-holds-barred welcome bonus requires one $10 deposit to activate — and North Carolina residents should expect similar promotions when ESPN Bet launches on March 11. Boasting insurance bet offers, personalized boosts, and a rewards program, there’s plenty to look forward to here.

Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina

Caesars is no stranger to North Carolina, having joined the state alongside Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River as the area’s sole sports betting provider. Its services are solely retail-based for the moment, but Caesars expected to join the fold on March 11. 

New users can sign up from March 1 and explore Caesars’ range of betting features, including promotions. Its current new customer offer — a $1,000 bonus bet package — will likely come into play from the online sportsbook’s launch date, with first-time losses paid back as a free wager. 

You can already indulge in watch parties, tune in to live action on giant screens, and back your favorite markets at Caesars’ retail branches in North Carolina. The platform’s soon-to-launch online sports betting website is simply an extension of an already-polished product. 

Bet365 Sportsbook North Carolina

A partnership with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets is included in Bet365’s application for a North Carolina sports betting license. The UK-based operator has spent much of the past half-decade forging new relationships with US customers by bringing expert soccer and rugby odds to new audiences. In addition to its European repertoire of sports, Bet365 is home to the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB.

New accounts are eligible for a Bet365 bonus bet deal likely between $150 and $1,000 in value. It’s difficult to predict how the sportsbook’s promotions will shape up at launch, but I expect a competitive new player bonus alongside regularly refreshed ongoing offers. Sign up on March 1 to get familiar with the latest installment in North Carolina’s family of sportsbooks.

Legalization Effort in North Carolina - Timeline

• Early 2019: Bill SB 154 passes through the Senate and the House as North Carolina edges closer to legal sports betting. The proposal intends to legalize sports betting at tribal land-based casinos, and Gov. Roy Cooper signs the measure into law before the summer is out.
• Late 2019: A new bill, titled SB 688, proposes to open 10 to 12 online sports betting products in North Carolina. Early optimism is backed by the Senate’s 26-19 vote in favor.
• 2021: Retail sports betting goes live at two tribal casinos: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River. 
• 2022: Bill SB 688 heads to House committees for review and gains support. However, the now three-year-old proposal hits a stumbling block and causes significant debate among lower chamber representatives. Eventually, SB 688 is struck down. 

Catawba Two Kings Casino cuts the ribbon on its new temporary location in September. As a tribal casino, Two Kings offers legal sports betting and plans to open a $700 million establishment before the decade’s end.

• 2023: A refined version of SB 688 — titled SB 347 — breathes new life into North Carolina’s hopes for online sports betting. Gov. Roy Cooper signs the bill into law in mid-June, sparking lawmakers into action on a plan for legal online sports betting.

Sportsbooks begin working with professional sports businesses to earn operating licenses. 

• 2024: The North Carolina State Lottery Commission reveals March 11 as the launch date for online sports betting. Keen bettors are encouraged to visit legal sportsbooks from March 1 to adjust to virtual betting platforms.

Projected Sports Betting Revenue in North Carolina

Estimates for North Carolina’s sports betting revenue over the next half-decade stand at around $1 billion, with a sizeable portion of that money suffused throughout the state’s services. The North Carolina General Assembly Fiscal Research Division projects more than $64 million in tax revenue during online sportsbooks’ first year in business, and that figure hits $100 million by year four. 

An 18% tax rate applies to sportsbook revenue in North Carolina, placing the Tar Heel State ahead of the bordering Virginia. Tennessee, another nearby state, calculates sportsbook tax rates by examining operator revenue.

Of course, all estimates are pure conjecture until online sports betting goes live. Variables like the quality of sportsbooks, local teams, and demand among residents are only determinable once we get to March 11 and beyond. 

North Carolina Compared to Other States: A Comprehensive Analysis

The Supreme Court overruled PASPA — a law that prevented legal sports betting in the US — in 2018. Within a year, North Carolina lawmakers had hatched a plan to implement online sportsbooks. 

But the Tar Heel State wasn’t the first to act. 

Delaware took advantage of the Supreme Court’s ruling immediately, followed by Rhode Island, Mississippi, New Jersey, West Virginia, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. These changes coincided with Nevada losing exclusive access to DraftKings and other top-range sportsbooks as betting operators sought to bring sports wagering to new territories. 

Washington DC, New York, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Oregon, and Tennessee organized legal sports betting frameworks before the turn of the decade.

The momentum continued through the early 2020s with Connecticut, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming each arranging respective sports gambling laws. 

The remaining 12 states have yet to legalize sports betting.

Professional Sports Teams in North Carolina

North Carolina is a hotbed for competitive sports. Here, I run through the state’s most popular minor and college outfits. 

Minor League Pro Sports Teams in North Carolina

The Durham Bulls and Charlotte Knights compete in baseball’s Triple-A division; the most prestigious non-MLB league in the US. North Carolina’s minor league talent extends to soccer, too, with Raleigh’s North Carolina FC in the USL Championship. 

AHL’s Charlotte Panthers deliver high-quality minor league ice hockey in the Tar Heel State. As for football, the Carolina Cobras battle in the indoor National Arena League. 

Greensboro Swarm participates in the NBA’s G League as North Carolina’s elite minor league basketball side.

College Sports Teams in North Carolina

Almost 20 college teams operate in North Carolina, and many branch into several sports. The state's fiercest rivalry — between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke University Blue Devils — crosses multiple sports, but this in-state division is most heightened during basketball matchups.

The Tar Heels and Blue Devils also compete in football’s FBS division alongside five other college sides; NC State Wolfpack, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, East Carolina Pirates, Appalachian State Mountaineers, and the Charlotte 49ers.

Campbell Fighting Camels, Elon Phoenix, and the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs join the Tar Heels, 49ers, and the Wolfpack as the only colleges boasting softball, football, soccer, baseball, and basketball teams.

Championship Odds Pages: What You Need to Know

College sports generally climax with playoff games, with basketball’s March Madness tournament proving popular in North Carolina. It gets underway a week after North Carolina launches sports betting services — so you can back your favorites as soon as the action begins.

Football’s collegiate playoffs concluded at the start of 2024, with Michigan clinching the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. 

Check out our college basketball and football odds pages to see the latest underdogs and favorites in North Carolina. 

When ready, add selections to your betslip by clicking on the odds. Enter a stake in the empty box, then confirm your bet by hitting ‘Place Bet’. 

North Carolina Mobile Sports Betting Updates

Mobile sports betting goes live in North Carolina at midday on March 11, 2024. You can evaluate sportsbooks and sign up from March 1 — allowing plenty of time to prepare for your first punt. Here is a list of operators likely to launch on opening day.

Final Thoughts on North Carolina Betting Sites

North Carolina’s deep-rooted ties to sports make the state an ideal location to bet on high-octane games and leagues. The last five-to-six years have been rife with change — and March 11 2024 represents the start of a new chapter for Tar Heel bettors. 

Refer to this page for steps on how to begin betting, estimated sportsbook revenue reports, or get a refresher on all things North Carolina sports betting.