North Carolina Launches Online Sports Betting With Eight Sportsbooks

North Carolina online sports betting is now live after a successful launch at noon local time on Monday, March 11. 

The state opened with eight sportsbooks that are available to customers 21 or older anywhere inside state lines. This was after the sportsbooks were granted a 10-day window to pre-register customers, during which they could receive a variety of prizes that were boosted compared to traditional sign-up offers. 

The launch now grants locals the opportunity to bet on the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, which begins on Tuesday, and March Madness, which tips off on March 19.

North Carolina legalized retail sports betting at tribal casinos in 2019 but did not expand into the online world until five years later.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed HB 347, the legislation granting the online expansion, in June 2023 and mandated a launch before the end of summer 2024. The bill allowed for a maximum of 12 online sports betting operators and said that all operators must pay $1 million upfront and every year of their license. 

Sportsbooks also needed to partner with a local professional sports team or venue, or a native tribe. The sportsbooks that are live include:

• Bet365 - Charlotte Hornets
• BetMGM - Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Caesars - Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
• DraftKings - NASCAR
• ESPN Bet - Quail Hollow Club (PGA Tour)
• Fanatics Sportsbook - Carolina Hurricanes
• FanDuel - Carolina Panthers and PGA Tour
• Underdog - Sedgefield Country Club (PGA Tour) 

Caesars was allowed to launch online on March 1 through its partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians but could only accept bets placed on tribal land.

Early estimates suggest that North Carolinians could wager up to $7 billion during the first year of operation. Officials also said they expect to earn more than $100 million in annual tax funding by the end of 2027. 

“We were kind of aware that they were going to legalize; it was just a matter of when," Dr. Michelle L. Malkin, founder and director of the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative at East Carolina University, told ESPN. “North Carolina tends to be a state that's a little more cautious around gambling... I think they were taking a backseat to see what was happening in the other states.” 

To celebrate the launch of the online market, Gov. Cooper placed a commemorative first bet on the Carolina Hurricanes, who are 39-19 and fourth in the Eastern Conference, to win the Stanley Cup.

The Governor’s office also released a 59-second promotional video of the bet from PNC Arena, captioned “Bet Responsibly, North Carolina” at noon.

"The legalization of sports betting will provide a significant boost to North Carolina's economy and will allow our thriving sports industry to continue to grow," Cooper said. "For the first bet in North Carolina, I'm taking the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup. The winnings will be donated to the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation which helps children's charities." 

Former Carolina Panthers tight end also made a ceremonial bet for DraftKings at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. The 39-year-old, who now works as a commentator for FOX Sports, said that he was wagering $4,100 on Bubba Wallace to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

North Carolina sports betting sites offer all of the usual markets, including moneylines, spreads, and totals, in addition to props, parlays, teasers, futures, and more. 

The state also does not restrict live betting or betting on in-state colleges and universities, which means that customers can support favorites Duke and UNC (or Wake Forest and NC State) in the ACC Tournament. 

Users are able to register for an account at any of the eight available sportsbooks from their phone, laptop, or web browser. They need to supply proof of identity through ID or another form of verification along with basic personal information, select a deposit method, and then decide how much to transfer to their account.