Best North Carolina Sports Betting Apps

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College basketball fans rejoice—the first of North Carolina’s sports betting apps are scheduled to launch March 11, in time for 2024 March Madness. Granted, online sportsbooks will need to jump through some regulatory hoops first, including partnering with an in-state sports franchise, golf club, or auto racing track.

This article is specifically looking at the sportsbooks apps that ate set to go live on March 11. If you're more interested in the full website experience, our dedicated North Carolina sports betting sites page can help you out!

The First Four tips off on March 19, 2024, and eight potential North Carolina sportsbooks are now targeting that date after submitting applications ahead of the Dec. 27, 2023, deadline. Unsurprisingly, the applicants include several sports betting operators already on most lists of the best North Carolina sports betting apps, like DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, FanDuel, Bet365, and Caesars. 

While real money online sports betting is legal in North Carolina, no NC online sportsbooks have launched yet. None of the online sportsbooks discussed on this page are currently live and each are still subject to regulatory approval. Regulators have announced March 11, 2024, as the anticipated launch date for online sports betting in NC.

Table of Contents

Best Sports Betting Apps in North Carolina

• Best sports betting app for promos: Bonus bets, odds boosts, sweepstakes, special bets, and other offers abound at BetMGM, making it an easy choice for best sportsbook promos.

• Best sports betting app for competitive odds: Caesars consistently posts the most competitive odds in the country. It can be a half-point to a full point better than average on spreads, and its vig is often smaller on moneylines.

• Best sports betting app for free contests: DraftKings runs more free contests surrounding the biggest games and sporting events than any other sportsbook. It’s bound to have a free bracket challenge set up for March Madness in North Carolina.

• Best sports betting app for software: FanDuel’s mobile software is dependable, smooth, and easy to use. The glitch-free experience makes FanDuel the best sports betting app for software.

• Best sports betting app for live betting: Bet365’s extensive lineup of live betting options makes it the best sports betting app for live betting. The app even has various live-streaming options, making it easy to watch and bet.

Top North Carolina Sports Betting Apps

Here’s a look at our picks for the top North Carolina sports betting apps once they launch and the key reasons these sportsbooks make the list:

Caesars North Carolina Sportsbook

Caesars is a top sports betting app because it consistently posts competitive odds. It’s a must-have app for shopping lines because it regularly posts better point spreads and moneylines than the competition. It also offers valuable Caesars Rewards points with every bet.

• Apple iOS rating: 4.6

• Android rating: 4.2

• Caesars’ sports betting partner: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina (Harrah's Cherokee Casinos)

• Live betting: Yes

BetMGM North Carolina Sportsbook

BetMGM is a top sports betting app because it runs so many potentially lucrative promos. There are bonus bets, odds boosts, sweepstakes, special bets, a referral program, and other offers surrounding your favorite sports. BetMGM seems to offer additional value to sports bettors every chance it gets.

• Apple iOS rating: 4.8

• Android rating: 4.5

• BetMGM’s sports betting partner: Charlotte Motor Speedway

• Live betting: Yes

FanDuel NC Sportsbook

FanDuel is a top sports betting app because its mobile software is so dependable. It always runs smoothly, rarely crashes, and makes it easy to look around at lines and get bets down. FanDuel’s best-in-class software is a key factor in its domination of most sports betting markets.

• Apple iOS rating: 4.8

• Android rating: 4.7

• FanDuel’s sports betting partner: PGA Tour

• Live betting: Yes

DraftKings NC Sportsbook

DraftKings is a top sports betting app because it runs so many free contests. There are free contests built around the biggest sporting events in the country, offering even mildly successful players a ton of value across the board. That means you don’t even have to bet money to make money with DraftKings, but when you do, there are a ton of betting options.

• Apple iOS rating: 4.8

• Android rating: 4.6

• DraftKings’ sports betting partner: NASCAR

• Live betting: Yes

Bet365 North Carolina Sportsbook

Bet365 is a top sports betting app because of the experience it offers live bettors. You can live-stream lots of action with this app, and the lineup of live betting options is expansive. Bet365 makes it easy to watch and bet on almost anything.

• Apple iOS rating: 4.8

• Android rating: 4.5

• Bet365’s sports betting partner:Charlotte Hornets

• Live betting: Yes

Fanatics Sportsbook NC

Fanatics, the massive sports merchandise and apparel retailer, now runs a rising online sportsbook. Fanatics Sportsbook is considered a top sports betting app because of all the promos it offers new and existing players. You can take advantage of daily bonus bets and several opportunities to collect FanCash—site credit with which you can bet or purchase apparel.

• Apple iOS rating: 4.7

• Android rating: 3.5

• Fanatics’ sports betting partner: Carolina Hurricanes

• Live betting: Yes

How We Rank the Top North Carolina Sports Betting Apps

We begin ranking the top North Carolina sports betting apps based on our experience using the apps in other parts of the country. We also lean on decades of experience writing about and reviewing mobile sportsbook apps across the globe. Then, we dive even deeper into a few key categories, including:

• Competitive Odds: If the odds aren't consistently competitive, a sportsbook app isn’t worth your time.

• Bet Variety: There must be more to bet on than just moneylines, point spreads, and totals for major sports.

• Bonuses, Contests, and Promos: We’re looking for sportsbooks that deliver welcome bonuses, ongoing promos, and contests with additional value for new and existing players.

• Software: The mobile software must be dependable and easy to use, crash infrequently, and run without many glitches.

• Special Features: We’re also looking for sportsbook apps with distinct wrinkles and capabilities to enhance your sports betting experience.

• Banking: There must be a variety of legitimate and easy-to-use banking options. The faster, the better.

Are North Carolina’s Best Sports Betting Apps Legal?

They’re about to be. The North Carolina State Lottery Commission announced at the end of 2023 that the first seven sportsbooks have applied for North Carolina online sports betting licenses. Plus, Caesars has signed up as a sports betting supplier because of its partnership with two tribal casinos in the state. All eight are eligible, pending regulatory approval, to start taking bets on the day of North Carolina's 2024 sports betting launch: March 11.

All five apps on our list of the best North Carolina sports betting apps are among the applicants. However, the commission is asking all applicants to perform a few regulatory tasks before determining launch eligibility. These include certification from a testing laboratory, geolocation testing, providing a demonstration of betting apps and sites, and submitting and receiving approval of internal controls and sports betting rules.

Sports Betting Welcome Offers and Bonuses in North Carolina

Expect a ton of value in welcome offers and bonuses from the top North Carolina sports betting apps when they launch. This is what they currently offer in other states.

• Click any of the sportsbook app links on this page to begin the process. This will ensure access to our exclusive welcome bonus offers.

• You’ll arrive at a sportsbook website, where you can fill out the registration forms with some basic information, including your name, address, and date of birth.

• After you’ve entered all that and checked any relevant boxes, click ‘Submit’ to create your new account immediately.

• Look around a little, then download the mobile sports betting app directly from the website for your iOS or Android device.

• Log into the app and make your first deposit to claim the full value of the welcome offer.

• Find games and markets you want to bet on and use your bonus to place your first bets by clicking on the latest odds.

North Carolina Sports Betting Apps vs. Retail Sports Betting

It’s hard to beat the payout speed offered by retail sportsbooks. After all, the windows are right there, and you get cash in hand. However, there are clear advantages to betting on sports with a top North Carolina sports betting app. The first has to be the convenience the apps offer. You don't have to leave your home or local sports bar to place a bet. In fact, you can place bets wherever you have access to the internet or mobile data with your phone using a top North Carolina sports betting app.

While several options are available for depositing and betting with cash on the apps, you don’t need cash to bet like you do at a retail sportsbook. Top North Carolina sports betting apps take credit and debit cards, as well as a variety of online banking options and third-party payment processors.

Plus, the leading North Carolina sports betting apps offer thousands in value in welcome offers and bonuses. You’ll get bonus bets and more for signing up, depositing, and betting with an app. Even though they run a few promos and contests, retail sportsbooks don't offer anywhere near that value.

Best North Carolina Sports Betting Apps FAQ

Is sports betting legal in NC?

Has North Carolina legalized sports betting? In short, yes, sports betting is legal in North Carolina. You’ll find retail sportsbooks at Harrah's Cherokee Casinos in Cherokee and Murphy and the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain. Plus, online sports betting legislation passed in 2023, and the state’s first sports betting apps are scheduled to launch March 11. 

Do North Carolina sports betting apps offer live betting?

Yes, North Carolina sports betting apps offer live sports betting. The apps allow you to bet on games in the middle of the action at odds that fluctuate with that action.

Is it easy to withdraw money from NC sports betting apps? 

Yes, getting money on and off any of the top North Carolina sports betting apps is easy. Sportsbook apps generally pay out using whatever method you choose to deposit. You can easily use credit and debit cards, online banking services, and online payment processors like PayPal to get money in and out of your sportsbook account.

What sports can I bet on with North Carolina apps?

You can bet on all major US sports with North Carolina sports betting apps. That means the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, alongside college football and basketball. You can also bet on women’s sports, international sports, and just about anything considered a legally sanctioned sporting event anywhere in the world.

If you make a purchase after clicking on links within this article, Lee Enterprises may earn affiliate commissions. The news and editorial departments had no role in the creation or display of this content.

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