NC pro teams, leagues get more power under proposed changes to sports betting law

North Carolina's mobile sports gambling law, which has not yet been enacted, would undergo significant changes if a new state budget proposal becomes law, according to a draft copy of the legislation obtained by WRAL.

It re-writes parts of North Carolina's new mobile sports betting law, which passed earlier this session and was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper. Mobile sports betting will not go into effect until 2024 under the law.

State lawmakers are expected to try to pass the $30-billion budget this week with votes to begin Wednesday, House Speaker Tim Moore said. Moore said the budget draft is not finalized, though many of its provisions are done.

As for changes to the sports gambling law, Moore said: "I'm not familiar with that one."

The new language strips out the limit of 12 mobile betting operators, but instead requires that operators have a "written designation agreement" with a professional sports team, the owners of certain major sports facilities or NASCAR or the PGA Tour.

"The Commission shall only license interactive sports wagering operators who have a written designation agreement," the new law would read.

The current law makes no mention of the "written designation agreement" in discussing how the North Carolina Lottery Commission is to license operators.

"The Commission shall authorize no more than 12 interactive sports wagering operators," is how the current law reads.

The change would give North Carolina's top-level professional sports teams — Hurricanes, Hornets, Panthers, NC Courage and Charlotte FC — as well as certain sports facilities in the state a big say in which operators can take bets.

Previously, operators did not have a relationship with a team, facility or league to be granted a license. Now they will have to have that agreement in place.

It's unclear if the change will allow for more, less or the same number of operators as the 12 previously allowed. The Lottery Commission has not yet awarded any licenses and is not even accepting applications at the moment.

The new language, however, seems to indicate that teams, facilities and leagues can only have a written designation agreement with one operator — and that operator must run the in-person sports book at the stadium, arena, track or golf course.

Under the law, up to eight facilities will be able to have sports books, including Raleigh's PNC Arena and Cary's WakeMed Soccer Park. Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell told WRAL previously that PNC Arena would have a temporary sports book as soon as allowed. A more permanent sports book is expected as part of a massive renovation at PNC Arena.

Another proposed change makes it clearer that North Wilkesboro Speedway would be allowed to have an in-person sports book since it "hosted at least one National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing All-Star Race occurring after January 1, 2022."

Mobile sports betting can begin as soon as Jan. 8 and no later than June 15. An exact date has not yet been set by the Lottery Commission, which has a meeting planned for Wednesday afternoon.