ESPN Bet gains North Carolina online sports betting market access with PENN, Quail Hollow partnership
ESPN Bet is likely on its way to North Carolina courtesy of PENN Entertainment's partnership with Quail Hollow Club, which was announced today.
The partnership secures access to North Carolina's future online sports betting market for ESPN Bet, subject to regulatory approvals. ESPN Bet will be the exclusive official betting operator of the Wells Fargo Championship, one of eight "signature events" on the 2024 PGA TOUR schedule.
Next year's Wells Fargo Championship is scheduled for May 6-12 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
ESPN Bet joins bet365 as a future sportsbook operator in North Carolina. Bet365, which previously inked a long-term partnership with the Charlotte Hornets, will serve as the official mobile sports betting partner of the Hornets when the company is licensed to operate in North Carolina.
The Hornets became the first professional team in North Carolina to partner with a sportsbook. Sports betting is legal in North Carolina after Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law back in June.
When will online sports betting launch in North Carolina?
Online sports betting in the Tar Heel State must launch by June 2024 under the provisions of HB 347. By law, it could begin as early as January 2024, but North Carolina Lottery Commission (NCLC) Chair Ripley Rand announced that the launch will not take place before Super Bowl 58 on Feb. 11.
The NCLC is accepting applications from sportsbook operators and established a deadline of Dec. 27 to have them submitted. A firm launch date will be determined after that.
While North Carolinians won't be able to legally wager on the Super Bowl, there is a chance that online sports betting will be up and running in time for March Madness. Fans of North Carolina, Duke, and N.C. State certainly hope so.
Online bettors in the Tar Heel State will also be able to wager on its professional teams:
- Panthers (NFL)
- Hornets (NBA)
- Hurricanes (NHL)
- Charlotte FC (MLS)
In the meantime, state residents can legally bet at three tribal casinos. Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel are located in western N.C. The Catawba Nation operates Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, N.C., about 35 miles west of Charlotte.
In addition to ESPN Bet and bet365, North Carolina will likely be home to other top sports betting apps.
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