Sports betting companies apply to operate in North Carolina
The biggest names in mobile sports betting are hoping to do business in North Carolina.
Sevenmobile sports betting companies, including industry leaders such as FanDuel, Draft Kings, Bet MGM and ESPN Bet, applied for a license to accept wagers in North Carolina by the state's initial Dec. 27 deadline.
Operators that applied by the date are eligible to take bets on North Carolina's "go-live" date, which has not yet been set by the Lottery Commission, which oversees mobile sports betting in the state.
In order to obtain a license, operators must have an agreement with certain professional teams, leagues and venues in North Carolina — due to a change inserted into the state budget months after the original sports betting law passed the state legislature.
The commission is continuing to accept applications. North Carolina can authorize a dozen mobile operators.
Who applied?
The commission received operator applications from:
- FanDuel (Betfair Interactive US)
- Bet MGM
- Draft Kings (Crown NC Gaming)
- Fanatics Betting & Gaming (FBG Enterprises North Carolina)
- bet365 (Hillside)
- Penn Sports Interactive (ESPN Bet)
- Underdog Sports Wagering
The Charlotte Hornets (bet365), Carolina Hurricanes (Fanatics), PGA Tour (FanDuel) and Quail Hollow Club (ESPN Bet)
Caesars Sportsbook, through its parent company American Wagering, applied for a service provider license. Caesars operates the two Cherokee tribal casinos in the far western part of the state and could gain access to the mobile market through those arrangements.
The commission released the list of applicants Friday morning.
When will betting start?
Mobile sports betting will not begin until after the Feb. 11 Super Bowl. The commission has until June 15 to launch mobile sports betting in the state, though it could be up and running by sometime in March.
"North Carolinians love basketball season and are looking forward to betting to the chance to bet on their favorite teams and players," commission spokesman Van Denton said in a previous statement to WRAL. "With all the progress that's been made, the commission expects to be in a position soon to announce when sports betting can begin in North Carolina."
The commission's sports betting committee has scheduled a meeting for Jan. 4. The full commission is scheduled to meet on Jan. 11.
