Legal North Carolina sports betting: Launching in March?

North Carolina sports betting is now legal, though it has not officially launched. 

As for when it will, there is no concrete answer but the picture is beginning to clear up based on comments that Governor Roy Cooper made on January 9th to reporters. 

These recent developments and comments provide context regarding when sports betting could eventually launch in the Tar Heel State, and it could be as soon as March 2024. 

North Carolina sports betting launch: March is the target, according to Gov. Cooper

Despite legislation marking Jan. 8 as the first day allowing online sports betting in North Carolina, state leaders still have yet to announce actual launch plans or a target date. That said, it's starting to feel like we have one. 

Considering the window the NC State Lottery Commission has to vet prospective operators and the time remaining before March Madness, it’s fair to have some optimism about the possibility of betting on college hoops this spring.

When it comes to launching sports betting, you can't help but look at the sports calendar and wonder whether North Carolinians will be able to wager on the year's biggest annual events such as the Super Bowl and March Madness. 

Fortunately, the state legislature is doing the same. "The idea is to try to get it in place before March Madness," Gov. Roy Cooper told reporters after a Council of State meeting in Raleigh on Jan. 9th. 

Following the Dec. 27 application deadline, the commission has up to 90 days (including a 30-day extension) to complete the vetting process. Considering BetMGM and DraftKings already announced agreements to operate, it’s reasonable to suspect more announcements in the coming weeks.

And with several operators (eventually) in the blocks ready to take off, it should only be a matter of time before we have an actual date to look forward to. Given the quick approval of the first two applications, there’s reason to anticipate NC positioning itself to launch in time for March Madness.

Considering the heavy, even fanatical, support thrown behind the state’s and region’s college basketball programs, it would serve as a fitting time for North Carolinians to place their first bets during college basketball’s annual showcase.

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils are perennial Final Four contenders, and that may be the case again this season. Programs like the North Carolina State Wolfpack, Wake Forest Demon Deacons and others also play their way into the tournament frequently enough to generate wagers from local supporters.

North Carolina sports betting legal starting this week

Monday marked the first day that North Carolinians could’ve hoped to place a legal wager, at least by the letter of the law. 

The College Football Playoff final was the first significant betting event on the sports calendar on which potential bettors may have hoped to wager. But the odds of NC sports betting launching on Day 1 were slim, even back in November.

Speaking on the likelihood of NC launching sports betting on Jan. 8, committee member Ripley Rand said it "probably won’t be the date that betting is authorized."

NC sports betting launch timeline

We’ve known for months that North Carolina passed legislation to legalize sports gambling. However, instead of information regarding an official launch date, prospective bettors have only heard about constant delays to the process. 

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, tasked with overseeing the development and launch of NC’s sports betting industry, met in early November, a meeting that revealed NC sports betting wouldn’t launch by Super Bowl 58 next month.

It’s frustrating for prospective bettors who were eyeing Super Bowl 58 as an opportunity to dive into the offerings at available sportsbooks and place wagers. By the time North Carolina finalized terms and language and worked around the legislative calendar, the volume of work required was simply too much to complete for a pre-Feb. 11 launch.

It stands as a significant missed opportunity in the short term. But progress is being made toward a launch nonetheless.

North Carolina accepted applications on its initial deadline day Dec. 27, 2023 and those that did will be eligible to receive bets on NC’s launch day.

Other operators angling for entry into North Carolina include FanDuel, ESPN Bet, Caesars, Fanatics, bet365 and Underdog.

One date on the timeline remains firm: June 14, 2024, the date by which North Carolina must launch legal sports betting.

NC legal sports betting FAQs

What sportsbooks are expected to launch in North Carolina?

The full list of sportsbooks ticketed for the Tar Heel State is still being determined. North Carolina will grant up to 12 licenses. So far, DraftKings and BetMGM have announced agreements to operate in NC. In addition, Bet ESPN, FanDuel, Fanatics and bet365 submitted applications by the Dec. 27 deadline, giving them the opportunity to receive bets on NC’s launch day.

What welcome bonuses can you expect?

More welcome bonus details will reveal themselves in time. The first step is the initial applicants being approved; the next step is the announcement of a launch date. At this point, North Carolinians can expect to see details of launch and welcome bonuses. These may vary from other markets that launched in recent years, and they’ll vary from sportsbook to sportsbook. Common bonuses include bonus bets upon signup and a first wager, second-chance bets and deposit matches.

Will I be able to wager on college sports in North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina sports betting legislation allows for betting on college sports, making a pre-March Madness launch that much more appealing for the state and its residents.

You must be over 21 to play. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. 1-800 GAMBLER.

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Craig Williams is a Charlotte-based content creator for Catena Media, who focuses on betting content and analysis. He draws from his professional experience that spans the gaming, fantasy, and sports business industries. Craig is an avid fan of basketball, baseball, football, and soccer, though don’t try to pin him down on a favorite — the No. 1 spot is rented, not owned.