North Carolina online sports betting won't launch in time for 2024 Super Bowl

North Carolina online sports betting won’t begin when it’s first allowed by law on Jan. 8, and we now know it won’t be live by the 2024 Super Bowl, either.

North Carolina Lottery Commission Chairman Ripley Rand confirmed Tuesday that online betting won’t be live by Feb. 11’s Super Bowl.

Despite legalization earlier this year, North Carolina still has many things to sort through as it gets betting live. Sportsbooks hoping to operate in the state will need to apply by Dec. 27, and then the commission has 60 days (with another 30-day extension possible) to approve or deny them. Any operator who hopes to be live in the state on Day 1 will need to apply by Dec. 27.

The 60-day window would likely put the launch sometime in March, but that’s no guarantee.

In-person sports betting is already legal in North Carolina, with two Caesars Sportsbooks operating at tribal casinos in western North Carolina, and another sportsbook outside of Charlotte.

North Carolina’s online sports betting bill allows up to 12 online sportsbooks. The licenses cost $1 million each, with an 18% tax rate — which both fall in the middle, comparatively, to other states.

The 12-license cap means we can expect to see all the big players like DraftKings and FanDuel live in North Carolina, but not some of the upstart sportsbooks who could get into states like Colorado or New Jersey, which have more licenses available at low costs. bet365 has already partnered with the Charlotte Hornets to become their official sports betting provider.