Best North Carolina Sportsbooks November 2023
| Online Sportsbooks · States · North Carolina |
North Carolina betting apps are not yet a reality, but we’re likely to see mobile sports betting become legal in the Tar Heel State soon.
We’ve put together this overview of potential North Carolina online sportsbooks so you can get ready to place your bets as soon as it’s legal.
In June 2023, Gov. Roy Cooper signed HB 347 into law, allowing sports betting on mobile devices and computers! Legal sports betting is expected to start in June 2024, but the law takes effect January 2024.
HB 347 accomplishes what past legislation like SB 688 failed to do when it comes to making sports betting legal in NC.
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS BETTING: LATEST UPDATES
Here are the latest updates regarding North Carolina sports betting:
2023
🗓 Nov. 7: The official sports betting rules are released by. the NC Lottery Commission.
🗓 Oct. 18: The North Carolina Lottery Commission released its outline for sports betting rules and invited the public to have input. A hearing on the proposed rules comes Oct. 27.
🗓 Sept. 28: NC regulators state that sportsbooks must be connected to a local pro sports team or venue.
🗓 Sept. 5: State regulators hire Gaming Laboratories International to facilitate the deployment of NC online sports betting.
🗓Aug. 23: In light of claims that iGaming initiatives are slowing down online sports betting initiatives, the NC Lottery Commission clarifies that it’s progressing on both fronts.
🗓 Aug. 8: Barstool Sportsbook, which intends to offer North Carolina sports betting, announces its impending rebrand as ESPN Bet.
🗓 July 28: The NC Education Lottery hires Sterl Carpenter as its Deputy Executive Director of Gaming Compliance and Sports Betting.
🗓 June 21: Tipico Sportsbook confirms its intentions to apply for an NC mobile sports wagering license since HB 347 makes sport betting legal.
🗓June 14: Governor Roy Cooper signs HB 347, which legalizes online sports betting in North Carolina.
🗓 June 7: The NC House gives final approval on HB 347.
🗓 June 6: The NC House approves Senate changes to HB 347 regarding taxes and horse racing betting.
🗓 June 1: A North Carolina sports betting bill, HB 347, passes its final Senate reading at 37-11 and moves to the house floor for concurrence.
WHEN CAN I BET ON SPORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA?
Like many states, NC eagerly put together sports wagering bills after the overturning of PASPA in May 2018. One of those bills, S 154, was signed into law early in the summer of 2019 and allowed for retail sports betting to take place in-person.
Renewed efforts to legalize sports betting in North Carolina kicked in, with Rep. Jason Saine's bill HB 347 now signed into law by Cooper! The bill, now law, takes effect in January 2024, but it's expected that legal North Carolina sports betting won't begin right away.
Experts indicate that one year from the signing of North Carolina's sports betting law, June 2024, is a more likely start date for legal betting in North Carolina.
Stay tuned for more updates!
CONTENTS
- Sports Betting News in North Carolina
- North Carolina Retail Sportsbooks
- Best Sportsbooks in North Carolina
- Betting Apps in North Carolina
- North Carolina Sportsbooks: Events & Betting Markets
- North Carolina Sportsbooks FAQ
- North Carolina Sports Betting: Latest Updates
SPORTS BETTING NEWS IN NORTH CAROLINA
As we've mentioned, 2023 saw a new push for legal, online books to go live. Representative Jason Saine was the main sponsor of H347, which initially allowed for up to 12 North Carolina mobile sportsbooks (in addition to whatever mobile app that the tribal casinos in the state would like to offer).
However, the licensing rules changed, and now all NC sports betting operators requesting a license will have to partner with either local professional teams or venues.
That means up to 11 mobile sportsbooks can enter the market when you add up the following potential partners:
- Carolina Panthers
- Charlotte Hornets
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Charlotte FC
- NC Courage
- NASCAR
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
- North Wilkesboro Speedway
- PGA Tour
- Sedgefield Country Club
- Quail Hollow Country Club
Now that the bill has passed into law, NC will legalize all betting including betting on college teams, in-state or not. That's a big selling point for North Carolina, which is obviously a big town for NCAA action!
The state's neighbors in South Carolina still don't have access to any online or retail sports betting, as SC's only legal form of gambling is the state lottery.
NORTH CAROLINA RETAIL SPORTSBOOKS
Retail sportsbooks in NC are currently limited to existing tribal casinos.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians own and operate two tribal gaming casinos with legal sports betting. The retail sportsbooks at these properties went live in March of 2021.
Both tribal gaming properties are branded under Harrah’s. The first gaming venue with a retail book is Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC.
The other is Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in Murphy, NC. In July 2021, the Catawba Tribe opened its Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, which also plans to offer limited NC sports betting in person.
Of course, there will be many more retail sportsbooks in NC once mobile betting launches given new regulations and guidelines.
BEST SPORTSBOOKS IN NORTH CAROLINA
As it stands, there are no NC betting apps or online casinos available just yet, but they're coming soon!
However, it is interesting to note that the only two casinos offering in-person NC sports betting are Harrah’s properties-- Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.
Here’s why that’s relevant to the future of online sportsbooks:
Earlier in the summer of 2019, Eldorado Resorts, Inc. purchased Caesars Entertainment Corp. for about $17.3 billion dollars, including assets, debts, etc.
The acquisition resulted in the two companies merging to become Caesars Entertainment Inc. It's now the largest gambling corporation in the country and well-positioned to continually expand its properties.
Harrah’s is under the Caesars umbrella, so this merger may very well help bring legal NC sportsbooks to your smartphone or computer.
CAESARS SPORTSBOOK NORTH CAROLINA
With in-person betting already available at Harrah's casinos in NC, Caesars in North Carolina will likely be one of the first sports betting sites to go live in the state when legalized.
Caesars Sportsbook has a great welcome offer and provides odds boosts on everything from the NFL to auto racing. Its comprehensive offerings lead many online sports bettors to regard it as one of the best sports betting sites.
Will North Carolina bettors be able to place a bet on their hometown Panthers with Caesars Sportsbook? Signs point to yes!
FANDUEL NORTH CAROLINA
Thanks to its daily fantasy sports offerings, FanDuel North Carolina is well-known across the state.
When online sportsbooks go live in the Tar Heel State and FanDuel comes along, NC players will likely appreciate the familiar and user-friendly interface that FanDuel provides.
DRAFTKINGS NORTH CAROLINA
Much like FanDuel, DraftKings started off as daily fantasy sports and now offers so much more, including an online sportsbook.
NC bettors will have a massive amount of markets and leagues to choose from should DraftKings make its way to the state.
BETTING APPS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Once the online sports betting law takes effect, you’re going to want to get a North Carolina betting app on your smartphone or device.
Caesars properties have fully-fledged legal sports betting apps in other states, so it’s no big leap for these DFS operators to provide North Carolinians with a decent smartphone app.
When apps do finally release, it’s a snap to get them on your smartphone.
Users on iOS and Android devices can simply navigate to the App Store/Google Play and search for the NC betting app of their choice.
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSBOOKS: EVENTS & BETTING MARKETS
You can physically head on over to one of the locations offering legal sports betting in NC and start betting on your favorite sports-- and soon, you'll be able to bet right from your phone!
If we take a look at other Caesars properties, we’ll see that a large variety of sports are available, including college and professional basketball and football, MLB baseball, auto racing, MMA, and more!
NORTH CAROLINA EVENTS & TEAMS TO BET ON
North Carolina Tar Heels basketball? You’ll be able to bet on it from mobile phones now that HB347 has gotten approval.
Duke football? That too!
If you’re looking for your favorite NC college sports, you should be able to find them on an NC sportsbook.
In addition to the college games, you’ll have no trouble betting on the Super Bowl, the World Series, and more of your favorite sporting events no matter the season.
Once NC betting sites are live and thriving, expect nearly all your favorite college sports and other events to be covered.
🤝 MJ SELLS THE HORNETS AFTER 13 YEARS AS MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER
In NC sports news, June 2023 marked the end of an era.
Michael Jordan (no intro necessary) sold his stake in the Charlotte Hornets after being the de factor owner for over a decade.
Jordan originally purchased the Hornets for $275 million and recently received $3 billion for flipping the franchise.
While Jordan still has a minority stake in the team, new leadership under Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin is sure to shake up the Hornets and NC sports at large.
We'll keep you up to date on this news (and how it may affect your betting choices) as the story progresses.
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSBOOKS FAQ
Take a look at a couple of North Carolina sports betting FAQs. You might find the answer about North Carolina online sportsbooks that you're looking for.
DOES NORTH CAROLINA HAVE SPORTSBOOKS?
Yes, but only on an in-person basis for now. Legal mobile betting is expected to start (at the earliest) on January 8, 2024.
WHEN WILL WE SEE NC BETTING SITES COME ONLINE?
The NC sports betting law takes effect in January 2024, but it might take until June 2024 for online betting to become available.
HOW DO I GET ONLINE AND START BETTING?
When legal mobile sports betting apps start releasing, they'll likely be very simple to use.
Just download your preferred North Carolina sportsbook app or navigate to the legalized online sports betting site using your web browser.
Then, register for a legal online sports betting account and verify your age and location. You'll be able to bet in no time!
Before you make your first deposit and start betting, don’t forget to take advantage of any welcome promotions and deposit bonuses-- you may be able to double the size of your betting wallet with some extra credit.
