North Carolina Inches Toward Sports Betting Launch Announcement
Governor says launching prior to March Madness remains the goal, but has any progress been made towards that?
North Carolina is closing in on a legal sports betting launch-date announcement.
The North Carolina Lottery Commission, which is regulating sports betting, set Dec. 27 as the application deadline for operators wanting to do business in the Tar Heel State.
The commission has said once that date passes, they’ll have an idea when online sports betting and in-person wagering at eight sports venues will go live.
The law goes into effect on Jan. 8, but the commission has said it won’t launch sports betting in time for the Super Bowl.
Gov. Roy Cooper said last week on the “Olvies + Giglio” show that changes made by the legislature after the sports betting bill was passed created a delay in the process.
“The goal is to get it out there before March Madness,” Cooper said. “There is no guarantee that is the case but that is the goal.”
What’s next?
Getting sports betting activated for college basketball’s biggest event would be a big deal in a hoops-centric state.
The Spectrum Center, home of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, is one of the eight venues that can house a retail sportsbook, and it’s hosting first- and second-round NCAA tournament games March 21-23.
A launch date could be coming early next month. The sports betting committee is scheduled to meet on Jan. 4 while the commission will hold a meeting on Jan. 10. There will likely be an update on where the launch process stands.
The commission said in the past that it would take 60 days to complete the background checks and vetting process, which follows Cooper’s timeline.
Through partnerships with teams/venues in North Carolina, bet365, FanDuel, Fanatics, and ESPN BET will operate in the Tar Heel State. It’s likely that DraftKings, one of the leading market-share sportsbooks in the U.S., will also be in the mix.
What’s coming?
North Carolina legislature agreed to allow as many as 12 online operators. Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Motor Speedway, PNC Arena, Quail Hollow Club, Sedgefield Country Club, WakeMed Soccer Park, and North Wilkesboro Speedway are the other sports venues approved for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
Currently, sports betting in North Carolina is only allowed at three tribal casinos: Two Kings, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.
