North Carolina Sports Betting: Online Betting Legislation Update
Sports betting has been legal in North Carolina since 2019. Only the two Cherokee casinos in the western part of the state can operate retail sportsbooks. Lawmakers are looking at legalizing NC online sports betting. North Carolinians can currently enter daily fantasy sports contests and play for real money.
In March 2021, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harra”s. Cherokee Valley River opened their sportsbooks. In 2021 the Senate advanced legislation permitting statewide mobile sports betting. The bill would have permitted 10 to 12 online sportsbook to launch in the state. It would also have allowed on-site sports bets at professional sports teams‘ home stadiums and arenas.
Sports betting is legal in North Carolina only at the two Cherokee-owned casinos. A new tribal casino, the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, opened in 2021 and has announced a plan to open a retail sportsbook in late 2022. Online sports betting isn't currently an option.
Legislation would have allowed 10 to 12 online sports betting licenses in North Carolina. It would also have authorized sports lounges to open at up to five other locations.
North Carolina has limited retail sports betting, but no online sports gambling. Tennessee has legalized online-only sports betting, and Virginia also has several sites with sports bets. North Carolinians can bet on sites in either state, though they would have to travel to each state to place their bets, as Tennessee and Vinton do.
At present, there are only two Harrah's Cherokee casinos that offer sportsbooks. Online sports betting could come to North Carolina soon.
BetMGM is the self-described "King of Sportsbooks" and offers a wide range of betting options.
WynnBET offers new customers a solid welcome offer, competitive odds and a wide range of bets.
DraftKings already offers daily fantasy sports contests in North Carolina. DraftKings Sportsbook is live in Tennessee and Virginia.
FanDuel already has a presence in North Carolina via its daily fantasy sports site. FanDue Sportsbook has already become a favorite in many states.
There are two retail sportsbooks in North Carolina. Both are in the westernmost part of the state at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrares' Cherokee Valley River. Catawba Two Kings Casino plans to open a retail sport'sbook.
There are no legal retail sportsbooks in North Carolina at the moment. Lawmakers have considered legislation that would permit sports betting lounges to open near professional sports venues with capacity of 17,000 or more.
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Motor Speedway, PNC Arena, Quail Hollow Club and Spectrum Center are the venues for North Carolina Sports Betting.
The North Carolina House failed to pass a sports betting bill in June 2022. The bill had already been approved by the Senate in 2021. It authorized both statewide online sports gambling and retail sports bets in select locations. A companion bill would have increased the sports betting revenue tax from 8% to 14%. It was passed by a narrow margin. Gov. Roy Cooper has expressed support for expanding legal sportsbetting in North Carolin.
The US Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting in 2018. North Carolina's first two tribal casinos both opened in 2015. The following year the state Senate and House passed SB 154, which allowed sportsbooks to open at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harra's Cherokee Valley River. In 2021 the Senate passed the bill SB 688 by a 26-19 vote and the House Commerce Committee voted in favor by 12-4.
North Carolina loves sports. There are professional and college teams in the state. The latest version of sports betting legislation would have excluded all betting on college sports, including the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils.
Charlotte Hornets of the NBA have a huge fan base in North Carolina. The team has made the playoffs a few times but never advanced beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals. Online sports betting will be available in NC.
Carolina Panthers have been in the NFL since 1995. They have won the National Football Conference twice and reached the Super Bowl twice. Sports bettors visiting NC casinos can bet on the Panthers to make the playoffs, win the NFC South division, capture another NFC title or even win a Superbowl. Online sportsbooks will be able to take bets on Panthers as well.
The Carolina Hurricanes debuted in 1997 after the franchise moved to Raleigh from Hartford, Connecticut. The team won several divisional titles and a Stanley Cup championship in 2006.
