North Carolina has a great blend of professional and collegiate sports teams. They are all fairly popular and share the love of the state somewhat equally. In most cases, states that take their sports teams very seriously, put up their guard and don’t really like to entertain the thought of sports betting on their precious hometown sports teams.
North Carolina Sports Betting News
*Despite boasting some of the best sports teams in the country, NC residents will have to wait to access top-tier US bookmakers such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers, Fox Bet, and Unibet. Though, do not worry; we have you covered with the best offshore bookmakers in the world, as listed above.
Table of Contents
North Carolina Sports Betting Timeline Can I bet on sports in North Carolina? North Carolina Casinos Betting on North Carolina Sports Teams Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in North CarolinaNorth Carolina Sports Betting Timeline
We take a look at the sports betting law in North Carolina, both past and present.
A Brief Look at North Carolina's Relationship to Gambling
North Carolina isn’t a state that is gambling-savvy. They resisted casinos in the past, which is in part due to their beliefs, as North Carolina is a very religious state, and gambling is frowned upon.
The state didn’t want the residents getting addicted and letting casinos take all of their constituent’s hard-earned money, but they did end up buckling and allowing a few casinos to sprout up. There are two tribal saloons in the state of North Carolina and are operated by the Cherokee tribe.
The Legalization of Sports Betting in the State 2019 to 2021
However, despite all of the anti-gambling stances in the state, sports betting was legalized in North Carolina in July 2019. The bill that was approved was S154, which allows sports betting in-person at one of the two tribal saloon casinos in the state.
The start of 2021 marked the beginning of legalized sports betting in North Carolina, permitting betting on both college and professional sports markets - though bettors must place their wagers in-person at one of two retail locations.
Can I bet on sports in North Carolina?
Yes, sports betting is technically legal in the state of North Carolina, but as of right now, there are no in-person sportsbooks available to the public at this time. Luckily for sports fans in the state, you can place wagers online at sportsbooks.
Laws around gambling predate the internet, so there are no restrictions around gambling online. You can bet from the comfort of your own home, legally and easily.
Online sportsbooks can be daunting, as some see them as a money grab or scam. Many online sportsbooks are safe and secure, but it’s advised that you do research before signing up as some have strict rules and regulations.
North Carolina Casinos
The two tribal casinos that offer sports betting are located in the Cherokee area, roughly three hours from Charlotte. They are not yet open to the public, as much of the United States is shut down with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
- Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel
Betting on North Carolina Sports Teams
The Duke Blue Devils are a widely popular collegiate program, their basketball team being the most popular of all time. They have been around for over 100 years, and have made an appearance in March Madness 41 times. They have only missed the NCAA tournament once since 1984, and have been to 16 Final Fours and have five NCAA titles.
Another college basketball program that is notable is the North Carolina Tar Heels. They are well known and received, and having Michael Jordan among their alumni definitely got some attention. UNC has only missed three NCAA tournaments in the past 45 years, with 48 March Madness appearances, 20 Final Fours, and six national championships.
A tilt between Duke and UNC would definitely stress out sports fans in the state – good luck getting a ticket to that matchup because they usually run about $2,000 USD.
Football Teams
In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers are relatively new to the league, only joining in 1995. The Panthers have had ups and downs, but have indeed had some impressive Super Bowl runs, with their most recent being in 2016 where they lost to the Denver Broncos. They have been struggling since then and hoping for another shot at the Lombardi.
Other Major Sports Teams
In the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets, owned by NBA superstar Michael Jordan, reclaimed their name after serving as the Charlotte Bobcats for a 10-year stint from 2004 to 2014. The team has no championships, conference titles, or even division titles.
The Carolina Hurricanes are based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and are the state’s sole NHL team. Formed in 1971 as the New England Whalers, then moved to Hartford and finally found their permanent home in Carolina as The Hurricanes in 1997. They have one Stanley Cup (2006) which was the first professional sports championship won by the state, two conference championships, and three division championships.
NASCAR is another notable sport that North Carolina residents can’t get enough of. The Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts several NASCAR events every year, reeling in 94,000-171,000 fans in their stadium.
Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in North Carolina
Online sportsbooks are nothing to be afraid of. If you have all of the information you need and know all of the facts before signing up, you will likely have a great online betting experience. Some online sportsbooks are better than others and we want to make sure you know about the best available books to ensure you’re having the best betting experience.
We at OnlineSportsBetting have compiled online sportsbook reviews that thoroughly evaluate and give recommendations on certain sportsbooks. These are sportsbooks we use ourselves, so they are of great quality, and you can ensure that they are trustworthy.
Check out our sportsbook reviews for certain bonuses that you may want to take advantage of, deposit options that you may need to use, and more.
Legal Sports Betting States
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- N.Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
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